The Fortress of Buhen was built during the Middle Kingdom, under the 12th dynasty rule of Sesostris III, ca. 1878-1843 BCE, to protect and guard Egypt's land to the South. The Fortress lays along the West for over 150m. Fully equipped with the latest in military defense of the time, it contained 3m deep moats carved into bedrock, revetments, drawbridges, bastions, buttresses, ramparts, battlements, embrasures, loopholes and catapult stations. On the inside of the compound, an administrative town was laid out on a grid system, which probably served as the center for the whole-fortified region of the Second Cataract.
The fortress remained virtually unmarked for 200 years. Buhen was the northernmost fortress of a series of eight that may have , as goods made their way into Egypt by water, coming from Nubia and southern Africa. Each fortress was able to been seen by the adjacent forts, which included sites of Mirgissa, Shalfak, Uronarti, Askut, Dabenarti, and ending with Semna and Kumma paired opposite of each other on either side of the Nile. Buhen was left intact, aside from some fire damage that occurred during the Hykosos invasion 1675 BCE. The compound was built as a defensive station, which is said to emphasize the interdependence between Egypt and Nubia. The fortress has been occupied by the Egyptians, Kushites, and the Meroitic peoples for over 2000 years without needing reconstruction, however, the erection of the Aswan High Dam in 1964 has fully submerged Buhen under Lake Nasser.
Riseman, Bill. (Learning Sites Inc.) "Company History: The Transition to VR, The Fortress of Buhen, Egypt." 1999. Last access 11/17/99 http://www.learningsites.com/EarlyWork/buhen-2.htm
Defensive structure of Buhen's Inner Fortress. "BUHEN: the 12th Dynasty Incarnation." Last access 11/17/99 http://www.duke.edu/~cdr2/buhen.html
History B94: History of Ancient Egypt student from Dr. Peter Piccione's class. Northwestern University Library. "Nubia: The Land Upriver." 1996. Last access 11/17/99 http://www.library.nwu.edu/class/history/B94/newking.html
Written by: Jessica Miller