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Asyut
"Sauti” in ancient Egypt was the chief-town of the thirteenth “nomo” in Upper
Egypt. Its strategic position made it famous in history. It is, in fact where
the Libyan desert passed through the cultivated land, restricting the
Nile
Valley and from where the Darb el-Arba caravaneer path began, that lead to the
el-Kharga oasis.
Asytu and its temples, particularly the one dedicated to the local wolf-god
Upuaut, are often mentioned in the Egyptian texts. The remainders found up to
now, belong almost exclusively to the necropolis in Asyut, that is west of the
modern city. The most important tombs go back to the IX, X and XII dynasty,
other two “ramessidi” tombs have been found, Siese’s and Amenhotep’s.
During the First Intermediate Period, Kheti I, Itefibi and Kheti II, were the
faithful supporters of the eracleopolitani kings and the “nomo” was the southern
limit of the domains of Eracleopoli.

Group of 40 soldiers, found again in the tomb of Mesehti, probably of the XII
Dynasty |
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