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EL-Fayoum
The
province of El-Fayoum is located about 70Km
southwest of from Cairo, easily found on the
map because of the large lake (Lake Qaroun),
which is close by.
This region is extremely rich in many
archaeological sites, such as the old City
of El-Fayoum (Crocododopolis). It is in a
natural depression in the desert, linked to
the River Nile by a branch called “Bahr
Yousuf”, whose name was probably derived
from the ancient Egyptian Word “Baym”, which
means sea or lake. It contains a lake that
was known by the Ancient Egyptians as “Mr-Wr”,
which means “the great sea”, and in Greek it
became “Moris”. Today, in Arabic, it is
called “Qaroun Lake”.
The word Baym was most probably the origin
of the word El-Fayoum. In Ancient Egypt it
was called “shedt” and it was a great city
during the Middle Kingdom.
Hawara Pyramid, which is considered to be in
one of the most important sites of the
province, was the Pyramid of King Amenemhat
III who ruled during the Middle Kingdom, but
unfortunately nothing is left of his huge
and fabulous mortuary Temple, which was
called the Labyrinth.
One of the
most famous areas in El-Fayoum is Kom Mady (Narmouthis);
this is because of the remains of the old
Temple, which dates back to the XII Dynasty
and was dedicated to the God Sobek, the
Goddess Isis, and the Goddess Renen-Wetet.
Actually there are several historical and
archaeological sites that are scattered in
different locations throughout this province
such as Kom Oushim (Kranis), Um Al Athl (Bachias),
Batn Ahryt (Theadelphia), Philadelphia, Qasr,
Qaroun (Dionysius) and others.
Today the Oasis, with its lakes and
sanctuaries, pristine desert areas (which
includes fossil remains of world
importance), various cultural sites, plus
the rural quietude, forms an amazing and
unique site of adventure, and beautiful
scenery.
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Karanis
(Kom Oushim)
Karanis (Kom Oushim) is situated 30Km north
of the city of El-Fayoum. In old Greek
documents this region was called Karanis and
it contains 2 Temples in the north and
another in the south, both dating back to
the Ptolemaic Period, as well as some
cisterns, public baths and houses etc. The
Kelsey Museum houses more than 45,000
objects from Karanis, but this large figure
does not include all of the finds. The
University of Michigan, between 1924 and
1935, excavated this Greco-Roman site,
dividing the artefacts with The Egyptian
Government when the excavations were
finished. Next to the two Temples there is a
modern museum, which also exhibits some of
the finds.
The plan of the 2 Temples is similar to the
plan of all the Ancient Egyptian Temples of
the New Kingdom with the same elements, the
only difference is that the 2 Temples of
Karanis contain offering tables (Altars) and
burials for the mummies of the crocodile,
which was the sacred animal symbolizing the
God Sobek. Each Temple consists of a pylon
and 3 small halls, then the sanctuary. To
the western side, at the front of the
Temple, there is an aquarium, which was
dedicated to the followers of the
crocodiles. They were constructed during the
reign of the Emperor Nero, but restored
during the reign of the Emperor Commodes.
Like the southern Temple the northern one
was consecrated for the cult of Sobek but
also to other deities such as Amon, Serapes,
Zeus, etc.
A dwelling area was discovered in Karanis,
the houses built out of mud-bricks, and red
bricks, with vaulted roof and stairs, gates,
windows, kitchens, and stables. Some walls
were painted and covered with colourful
decorations.
To the east of the city there is a cemetery,
which also dates back to the Ptolemaic
Period. Recently a great number of artefacts
were found, including: ostracas, jars,
glassy vases, and coins, as well as a large
number of papyrus, written in Greek, and of
great value, which provide us with details
about the aspects of life during that
period, like trade deals, taxation
documents, and civil contracts. Remains of
Public Baths, built of burnt brick, were
also discovered. |
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