HERAKLEOPOLIS MAGNA

'Herakleopolis Magna' is the Greek name of the capital of the Twentieth nome (administrative division) of ancient Egypt. It was called ''Henen-nesut'', ''Nen-nesu'', or ''Hwt-nen-nesu'' in ancient Egyptian, meaning 'house of the royal child.' Later, it was called ''Hnas'' () in Coptic, and ''Ahnas'' in medieval Arabic writings. Today it is known as ''Ihnasiya Umm al-Kimam'' ("mother of the shards") and ''Ihnasiyyah al-Madinah''.
It was the capital of Lower Egypt of the ninth and tenth dynasties, which ruled during the First Intermediate Period. After the re-unification of Egypt, Henen-nesut faded in importance. Today the ruins are a tourist attraction.
Legend held that there was a vast labyrinth at Herakleopolis, but no evidence has yet been found that it existed as anything other than myth.