After the illustration (print study drawing) “Vues et plan d’un temple d ‘Hermontis” for Plate 51 of Vivant Denon’s “Voyage dans la Basse et la Haute Egypte, pendant les campagnes du Général Bonaparte”, 1802.
Hermonthis also known as Armant, Erment and many other variations, is a temple complex located 12 miles south of Thebes.
Hermonthis was home to the god Montu, master of untamed power. Generals of the Egyptian army were called the “Sons of Montu”.
The temple became important in the Middle Kingdom as the center of the Buchis bull cult. Like the Apis of Memphis the Buchis bulls had certain markings. The temple thrived through the New Kingdom and, in the Greek Period was famously added to by Cleopatra.