He was identified with Ra and Osiris in ancient Egyptian religion,[1] as well as Dionysus[2] or Heracles in the interpretatio graeca.

The site was called nn-nswt in Demotic which was pronounced ǝhnes in Coptic, Heracleopolis (Magna) during the Hellenistic period and the Roman Empire and Ihnasiyya in Egyptian Arabic.

Flinders Petrie found remains of a temple at the site dating to the Twelfth Dynasty.

The sixteen palm columns used were taken from existing temples, possibly those of Djedkare Isesi or Sahure.

Yasuoka speculates that Ramesses II's fourth son, Prince Khaemweset, may have been the official who directed this project.