Not far from our lovely town of Iunet, lies the Place of the Bekheny, the valley which in the modern language is called "Wadi Hammamat". It is a wide desert valley among rock and it is here the three kinds of Bekhen stone is mined.

This is also the route where merchants from the distant lands across the Red Sea to the east of Kemet come and go, and it is from here many a Pharaoh set out on expeditions. Inscriptions from these times, with dedications to Min-Amun adorn the rock walls in plenty all along this valley. The inscriptions of the Sementiou, those brave people in the past who first came here to search for mining opportunity, can still be seen here. It is thanks to the Sementiou that this important mining location with its thriving business was discovered. But there is much more; ships are depicted coming in with their cargo, men are carrying goods, men are offering and praying to the deites, Djehuty in his baboon form is there, Isis, Tawaret, Ptah... animals like crocodiles, geeze, gazelles, dogs and birds of various forms all wander along the cliff sides, memories of a once rich hunting ground. These hieroglyphic writings come in hundreds, which you will see, especially on the south side of the wadi.

The success of these mines and of the contact with foreign lands are surely thanks to HetHert, who is the Patron Goddess Par Excellence for just these two things! If you have time, make an offering to the Ladys of the Sycamore here! (coming)

The Place of the Bekheny is a broiling place; miners and merchants all meet and mingle here. This road, which stretches all along the valley to the Red Sea, is frequently used and brings many visitors to Egypt. Wander around the Place of Bekhen and you will hear most of today´s languages spoken for apart from Kemetic people, merchants come from Syria, Caaanan, Persia, Mesopotamia, Libya and the Levant. In fact, many inhabitants in the town of Gebtu not far away from here, are not Egyptians but foreigners who have come here for trade, and who have settled. And why shouldn´t they, Kemet is the best of Lands, where the Gods live and where Ma'at reigns! Many wares are unpacked and distributed under the watchful eyes of Overseers, only to be packed in again and directed to other places along the Nile.even as far off as the mysterious land of China sends the occasional caravan. This won´t happen until those Romans take over Kemet, (Netjer forbid) but I thought you would like to know anyhow ;)

Of the mine workers who live here, some are working seasonally and return home to their families a couple of times a year, others have their permanent small huts or houses. There are also artisans, like stone cutters and chisellers, who work with the mined stone, the greywhacke, the most common stone mined here.

Sometimes the stone material is transported as it is, to arrive in the workshops of necropolii elsewhere, for example at Saqqara, Per-Bast, Kahun and Abedjou.

We mainly mine two kinds of stone here in the Place of the Bekhen: siltstone and greywacke.

Siltstone is composed of silt-size grains, they are dark grey to greyish green and there are no visible grains in it.

Greywacke is composed of fine sand grains and the occasional pebble. Its color varies from dark grey to greyish green and you can see the sand-sized grains in it. The local greywacke however, varies with three types of stone of which the first two are the most quarried: One is a rich red sandstone, next one is a paler stone with finer grain, and the last one is a dark brown, basalt-looking stone but this one is soft. This grerywacke is very popular in all its varieties and very well suited for statuettes, sarcophagi and bowls. Some of these things are manufactured here in our workshops, and then exported to every corner of our land. Many of our ancient Kings had their sarcophagi made from greywacke (Unas, Teti, Pepy I, Merenre of the Old Kingdom).

What to do in the Place of the Bekhen?
Why not take a guided tour around the mines, maybe with some luck, you might get yourself a nice trinket of greywacke for a souvenir to place at your home! There is much to see over at the Caravan Stop, where the caravans make their camp. You can see how foreign merchants unpack their wares and deal with Kemetic officials to get the best price for them. Such a wealth of things to see,smell and hear!

I have heard that the Overseer here is looking for someone to keep a souvenir stand stand by the Caravan Stop. Wouldn´t it be fun if people can buy beautiful stone bowls for a good price to surprize them with back home - or even a miniture sarcophagues, made from the finest greywacke in the Land! Or how about small amulets with inscriptions saying you went on a caravan trip to the Red Sea coast and back again, to show your friends? You don´t even have to travel all that long hot, dusty road to get the plaque!