Fayoum Oasis 

Fayoum is known as (the garden of Egypt), technically is:

1- An oasis. Separated from the River Nile by a narrow stretch of desert, this fertile basin of land has a large lake, Birket Qarun on its northern side which is fed by the Bahr Yusef, a tributary of the Nile. 

2- Part of the Nile Valley because it is easily accessible from Beni Suef to the south, or Cairo to the north.

The region is mostly an agricultural area, its fertility provided by a series of irrigation canals that are intricately spread across the depression to supplement the natural wells and springs of the oasis. A wide variety of crops can be seen, depending on the season – the main one being cotton, but there is also wheat, rice, tomatoes, and a large selection of fruit and vegetables. Much of the cultivated land is covered by groves of palm trees, for every part of the palm is of use. The surplus water drains into the Wadi Rayyan where two new lakes have been created in the desert valley over recent years. These two lakes are joined by the only waterfall in Egypt. Wadi Rayyan is also rapidly developing as a recreational area for Egyptians, with the shores of the southern lake boasting beaches, pleasure boats, and waterfalls as well as good fishing and a large cafeteria area.

let us gives you such brief information about the most important historical sites in Fayoum 

El-Lahun Pyramid

Senwosret II chose El-Lahun for the site of his pyramid complex, named, ‘Senwosret Shines’. Although still an impressive size, the pyramid is now in a ruinous condition and a natural outcrop of yellow limestone spokes around which the structure was built can be seen protruding from the rubble of the mudbrick fill in some places. This was the first large mudbrick pyramid and was once covered by a white limestone casing, which according to an inscription read by Petrie, was removed during Dynasty XIX.

Hawara Pyramid

 As the oasis of El-Fayoum became more important during Dynasty XII, many religious monuments were built there and the next pharaoh to construct his pyramid in the region was Amenemhet III. This was not the king’s first choice of burial site – he had previously built a pyramid at Dahshur, to the north, during the early part of his long reign, but due to structural stresses which became apparent during the construction, Amenemhet opted to begin a second pyramid at Hawara, near the site of his grandfather’s monument at El-Lahun. It was to be the last major pyramid complex in Egypt.

Qasr El-Sagha

Situated about 25km from the main road. north of Qarun Lake, can reach via a track from Kom Ushim so A 4×4 vehicle is needed 

In remote antiquity a forest grew on the escarpment north of the site – petrified remains can still be seen and it is thought that Birket Qarun (ancient Lake Moeris) once extended its northern shore close to the temple in the days when the lake was much larger. 

The date of the temple is a source of debate among scholars, but its plan suggests that the structure was built no later than the Middle Kingdom. Its architecture, however, was interpreted by early explorers as being in the style of Old Kingdom structures. The temple was constructed of limestone blocks of different sizes, which fit tightly together without the use of mortar and with oblique corner joints.

The temple was never completed and the walls were left undecorated. The interior contains seven small chambers or shrines and an offering hall. There is also a ‘blind room’ which is completely enclosed and appears to have no entrance.

On the flat plain to the south of Qasr el-Sagha, there are several sites of prehistoric villages whose inhabitants seem to have existed by hunting, farming, and fishing.

Dimeh el-Siba

Around 8km south of Qasr El-Sagha, towards Birket Qarun, is the site of the Graeco-Roman town of Soknopaiou Nesos. Today is known as Dimeh el-Siba (Dimeh of the Lions), the town have been founded during the Ptolemaic Period, on an earlier neolithic settlement. Its Greek name means ‘Island of the Crocodile-god’ probably as a garrison for the Roman soldiers who protected the area from desert bandits. 

Within the ruins of the town were two temples that stood on a mound and were contained within mudbrick walls. The northern temple, at the end of the processional way and now ruined, was dedicated to Soknopaios, who was a form of the crocodile-God Sobek. Only the stone foundations of this temple remain today. The southern temple was constructed of mudbrick and stone and was probably of a later date.

The mudbrick walls of the town can be seen from quite a distance away. They are still 10m high and the site is strewn with debris and pot-sherds which cover the whole space of the temple area. A Roman cemetery is situated to the southwest of the town.

Kom Ushim (Karanis)

Kom Aushim is the first village to be reached when traveling the desert road from Cairo, south-east towards the Fayoum and the center for visiting several sites of interest. Kom Aushim has a small museum, almost hidden in its gardens, which has been recently renovated and includes artifacts found in the Fayoum which date from the prehistoric to Roman periods. There are some good Middle Kingdom models from Hawara, the colossal head of a Roman god from Karanis, and many items of pottery and coins found in the Fayoum. The museum is temperature-controlled and very well-lit.

Kom el-Hammam

Kom el-Hammam is about 40km to the northeast of Medinet El-Fayoum and is the site of the ancient garrison town of Philadelphia. It is also known by the name of El-Roda and Kom El-Kharaba El-Kebir, the ‘Great Hill of Ruins’.

Today there is nothing left of Philadelphia to see, but its importance lies in the fact that many of the mummy portraits in the world’s museums come originally from this site’s necropolis. The portraits were discovered by locals in the 19th century while taking fertilizer for their fields and bought by a European dealer, who subsequently sold them to various museums.

Many papyri have also been found at the site, including the archive of Zeno, a steward of Apollonius, who kept records of his correspondence filled with details of agricultural production. These records have provided a great deal of information about the management of a Ptolemaic town and daily life in this farming community.

Umm el-Baragat (Tebtunis)

Umm El-Baragat is the name for the modern village close to the ancient town site of Tebtunis, situated at the southern edge of the Fayoum, about one hour’s drive from El-Fayoum city.

Originally founded in the New Kingdom, although the visible remains are Ptolemaic to Roman. Tebtunis became one of the largest Graeco-Roman towns in the region, remaining inhabited through to Islamic times. there are remains of a small temple of Sobek, (Lord of Tebtunis), dating to the Ptolemaic and Greek Period. Much of the site is now covered by sand but there is a long stone-paved sacred way leading up through the ruins to the temple entrance, which is guarded by two Greek carved yellow limestone lion statues. In the southern end of the temple area, several large fine white limestone columns, of Greek-style, have been reconstructed in a court on the western axis of the building. Umm El-Baragat was also home to a large crocodile cemetery where over 1000 mummified crocodiles and sarcophagi were found.

Medinet Madi (Narmouthis)

situated 30km southwest of Fayoum city. Its modern name means ‘city of the past’ and in Graeco-Roman times it was known as ‘Narmouthis’. Excavators have discovered two separate towns at the site, but today the main monument at Medinet Madi is a small temple dedicated to Sobek, Horus, and the serpent-goddess Renenutet, founded during the reigns of Amenemhet III and IV during Dynasty XII.

Qasr Qarun

situated near the village of Qarun on the western edge of the Fayoum depression at the southwestern edge of Birket Qarun. In ancient times the town was known as Dionysias and was the beginning of the caravan route to Bahriya Oasis. Dionysias was founded in the 3rd century BC.

above sites are the most important in Fayoum but also there are many other sites and interesting places will let you know about them in our next post 

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