el-Kab

El- Kab (Arabic الكاب, DMG al - Kab, often Elkab ) is a small village in Upper Egypt, near which are the remains of the ancient city are Necheb (Roman Eileithyia ). el- Kab is located 15 km north of Edfu and 65 km south of Luxor at the mouth of the Wadi Hilal.

Importance

Necheb is one of the oldest cities in Egypt. Here was the shrine of Nekhbet, who was one of the two crown goddesses of the Egyptian kings. The city therefore had from the beginning a close relationship with the Egyptian monarchy and in the local Nechbettempel has been built in almost all periods of pharaonic history. The ruins of the main temple are now badly damaged, especially during the city wall is still very well preserved. Further still standing ruins are some rock tombs in the adjacent desert and some smaller temples in the city environment. The city was closely related to Hierakonpolis on the other side of the Nile, making this a kind of double city.

History

The place was already inhabited in the Naqada period. From the Old Kingdom has produced some great mastabas and rock-cut tombs, which underline the importance of the city during this time. From the Middle Kingdom, the oldest preserved remains of Nechbettempels come. In the Second Intermediate Period of place and a number of important rock-cut tombs flourished (eg, the grave of Sobeknacht; grave of Paheri ) was built here. The temple was further expanded in the New Kingdom and in the wider community of the city's other temples were built, including a small chapel of Amenhotep III. and a rock temple in Ramesside period. The Nechbettempel was greatly expanded under Psammetichus I.. Significant additions stem from Hakor and Nectanebo I. Other temples ultimately derived from the Greek period, in which also the Amenhotep III.- chapel and the Ramesside rock temples were expanded. In Greco- Roman times it was known as Eileithyiaspolis.