El-Ashmunein is the modern name of ancient Hermopolis Magna, the principal cult centre of the god Thoth and one of the most important cities of pharaonic Egypt. The site is sprawling and partly buried, but several monuments stand out: a row of Coptic basilica columns reused from earlier pharaonic structures, two enormous quartzite statues of baboons (animals sacred to Thoth), and the remnants of a pylon from a temple of Amun.
The early Christian basilica was built from cannibalised pharaonic blocks and still has standing columns, making it one of the more impressive late-antique church remains in Middle Egypt. The site is usually combined with a visit to nearby Tuna el-Gebel as a day trip from Minya. Excavations continue to expose new structures, and the small site museum displays finds from the area.