Exploring the Dromos of Hermes at Hermopolis Magna

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

1 Tourist Guidance Department, Faculty of Tourism and Hotels, Minia University

2 Professor, Faculty of Arts, Minia University

3 Tourist Guidance, Faculty of Tourism and Hotels, Minia University.

Abstract

The dromos of Thoth (Hermes) at Hermopolis Magna was the backbone of the ancient city of Hermopolis Magna; it ran from the east to the west and had all the city institutions built on it’s both sides. This paper aims to highlight the historical and archaeological importance of the dromos through displaying the settlement planning and the major public places for different activities like healing, dream interpretation, religious celebrations, governmental declarations, and commercial activities. The archaeological remains built alongside the dromos confirm its major role, so, the remains of the Gate of the Sun at the eastern side, passing to the exedra then to the Komsterion which was near to the chapel of the royal cult, alongside the northern side of the dromos we could find the remains of the Tertrastyla, also, the Bank of Athena. This study depends on analyzing methodology of the archeological sites of Hermopolis Magna, which locate the dromos from the north to the south of the city, but the result of the study reveals that the dromos was running from east to west of Hermopolis Magna.

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