Hu, Egypt

Hu (Arabic: هُ‎‎) is the modern name of an Egyptian town on the Nile, which in more ancient times was the capital of the 7th Nome of Upper Egypt. The nome was referred to as Sesheshet (Sistrum). The main city was referred to as Hu(t)-sekhem, which was abbreviated as Hu. This led to the Arabic name Hiw. In Ptolemaic times the city was called Diospolis Parva (Little Zeus-City) in comparison with Thebes, Egypt, known as Diospolis Magna (Great Zeus-City). It was also called Diospolis Superior (Upper Zeus-City), in comparison with Diospolis Inferior (Lower Zeus-City) in the Nile Delta.

Hu was the centre of the cult surrounding Bat, a goddess in Egyptian mythology.

The goddess Bat remains the main goddess until at least the time of the 12th dynasty as she is mentioned on a shrine belonging to Senusret I. By the time of the New Kingdom Bat is replaced by Hathor as the main goddess worshipped at Hu.