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