ABSTRACT
The Eleventh and Twelfth dynasties are described by Manetho as consisting respectively of sixteen and of seven kings of Diospolis. Diospolis was the “city of Zeus,” corresponding with the local designation Newt-Amun, “city of Amun,” also shortened to Newt, “city.” The excellence of taste, beauty of design, and microscopic accuracy of execution in the materials witness to the elegance and refinement attained in the upper level of society in the Twelfth Dynasty. In the Eleventh and up to the middle of the Twelfth Dynasty, at least some of the provincial governors in Egypt also had tombs of considerable magnificence. In a Twelfth Dynasty inscription at Serabit el-Khadem, an Egyptian mining official credits Snefru with being his great predecessor in such work, and it was no doubt because Snefru was remembered as the most famous founder of mining in Sinai that he became a god of the area.
