Hermopolis Parva

Now I know why I prefer to write about Upper Egypt.  I have several commitments for the next Edition of Egyptological (which is why I have been quiet here) including a brief article for publication on 1st April.  I ought to have know that was not propitious.

I thought to write an article about the city of Hermopolis Parva in the Delta.  Only where is it? Wikipedia identifies it confidently as the capital of both the 7th and 15th nomes.  Margaret Bunson in her Encyclopaedia of Ancient Egypt places it on three "tells", without recognising that one of these is tens of miles from the others.   Worse, writers since Greek times have been confusing Hermopolis Magna with Hermopolis Parva, often confusingly referring only to "Hermopolis". 

Having spent an evening, I also don't know the age of the city.  Some texts insist it was Ptolemaic only.  Others have it founded by Ramses II in the New Kingdom.  Others reasonably suggest that as one of the two chief cult centres of Thoth it as an important site in the Middle Kingdom and one text seemed to push it back into the Old Kingdom.

There is a huge need for a definitive article: I may write it but it wasn't the quick article I was hoping for with a 1st April deadline.  I may look to write something on the Nubian Pharaohs instead.