(now *Eshmoum* or *Ashmounem*), a city of Hepanomis or Middle Egypt, on the left bank of the Nile, in N. Lat. 27° 50′, E. Long. 30° 53′. Owing to its frontier position with reference to Middle and Upper Egypt, the ancient Hermopolis was a place of im- portance, second only to Thebes. The portico, still remaining, of a magnificent temple has attracted the notice of travellers. It consists of twelve pillars, each 40 feet high, in two rows of six to each row, painted with bands of blue, red, and yellow. These pillars are composed of irregular masses fitted together—a peculiarity of extremely rare occurrence in Egyptian architecture. The ruins of Hermopolis have been greatly destroyed by the Mohammedans, who have used them for building purposes.