The name of Armant is derived from the origin Pharaonic name ‘Ayono Montoh.’ Monto was the name of an Egyptian idol meaning ‘the traveler’. Monto was also connected with rage bulls, power and war. It was said that Monto was embodied in the form of a white bull having a black face, and referred to it as ‘Bakha’. The famous and victorious war leaders among the Egyptian Pharaohs held the title of ‘The Strong Bull, The Son of Monto.’ In the famous narration of Qadesh Battle, it was said that when Ramses II glimpsed the enemies, "…he rushed toward them like Monto, the master of Thiba". In Armant there was the Temple of Monto which was built during the Eleventh Dynasty. Now there is nothing left of it except for the pillar of Tutmose III. After the Pharaonic era the name of the city was changed to Hermonthis. During the reign of Cleopatra VII, Arment (Hermonthis) became the capital of the Fourth Upper District. Hermonthis was still populated throughout the Coptic era, but its importance diminished during the Islamic era.