Hannu, alt. Hennu, Henu, Henenu etc., was an Egyptian explorer serving under Mentuhotep III. He bore the titles of Bearer of the Red Sea, Steward, Sole Companion, Chief of the Six Courts of Justice. He was overseer of the temples of horn and hoof (i.e. of the cattle). As Keeper of the Door of the South he was responsible for the defence of Egypt's southern border and claims to have explored the Red Sea. If this is true, he was the first explorer. Hannu lived in aroud the time of 2750 B.C.

In the eighth year of the reign of Mentuhotep II he set out from Coptos at the head of a three thousand men strong army, crossed the mountainous Eastern Desert by way of Wadi Hammamat and on the coast of the Red Sea his name apparently reassembled a ship Ancient Egyptian gods had carried with them. Hannu is said to have sailed down the red sea to explore the southeastern areas of the Arabian peninsula. He sent the ship off to the Land of Punt, though some think that he commanded it himself, the record being ambiguous.¹ After the ship's return Hannu delivered the traded goods (referred to as "gifts" or perhaps "tribute") including myrrh, precious metal and wood to the king.

Hannu wrote of his expidition in stone.

References

• Lionel Casson, The Ancient Mariners: Seafarers and Sea Fighters of the Mediterranean in Ancient Times, Princeton University Press 1991, p.10
• J. H. Breasted, Ancient Records of Egypt, Part One, Chicago 1906, §§427-433
• Osbert Guy Stanhope Crawford, Antiquity, Antiquity Publications 1996, p.241

1. ^ e.g. Thurstan Shaw, The Archaeology of Africa: Food, Metals and Towns, Routledge 1993, p.590

See also

• List of explorers

External links

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