Herakleopolis Magna

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Herakleopolis Magna is the Greek name of the capital of the Twentieth nome (administrative division) of ancient Egypt. It was called Henen-nesut, Nen-nesu, or Hwt-nen-nesu in ancient Egyptian, meaning 'house of the royal child.' Later, it was called Hennes in Coptic, and Ahnas in mediaeval Arabic. Today it is known as Ihnasiya Umm al-Kimam ("mother of the shards") and Ihnasiyyah al-Madinah.

It was the capital of Lower Egypt of the ninth and tenth dynasties, which ruled during the First Intermediate Period). After the re-unification of Egypt, Henen-nesut faded in importance. Today the ruins are a tourist attraction.

Legend held that there was a vast labyrinth at Herakleopolis, but no evidence has yet been found that it existed as anything other than myth.

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