Fayum

Fayum is a forgotten gem off Egypt beaten track. Archaeological evidence has found occupations around the Fayum dating back to at least the Epipalaeolithic. Middle Holocene occupations of the area are most widely studied on the north shore of Lake Moeris.

In ancient Egypt, the city was called Shedet, a centre of the cult of the crocodile god Sobek (Koinē Greek: Σοῦχος Soûkhos, Latin: Suchus). In consequence, the Greeks called it "Crocodile City" (Koinē Greek: Κροκοδειλόπολις Krokodeilópolis), Crocodīlopolis in Latin. The city worshipped a tamed sacred crocodile called in Koine Petsuchos, "the Son of Soukhos", adorned with gold and gem pendants. The Petsoukhos lived in a special temple pond and was fed by the priests with food provided by visitors. When Petsuchos died, it was replaced by another.

Under the Ptolemaic Kingdom, the city was for a while called Ptolemais Euergétis (Koinē Greek: Πτολεμαῒς Εὐεργέτις). Ptolemy II Philadelphus (309–246 BC) renamed the city Arsinoë and the whole nome after the name of his sister-wife Arsinoe II (316–270 or 268), who was deified after her death as part of the Ptolemaic cult of Alexander the Great, the official religion of the kingdom.

Under the Roman Empire, Arsinoë became part of the province of Arcadia Aegypti. To distinguish it from other cities of the same name, it was called "Arsinoë in Arcadia".

By microbus from different regions in Cairo e.g. Ramsis Square and also from different regions in Giza e.g. El-Remaya Square (Shotting Square) and El-Moneeb. There are slow trains from Cairo too.

• 🌍 Fayum railway station. (updated Sep 2020)

• 🌍 Qaitbey Mosque. Built by the wife of the eighteenth Sultan Qaitbey in the early 16th century. While not at all as impressive as other structures from the same period, it still showcases the historic importance of Fayum. (updated Jul 2017)
• 🌍 Medinet Madi Archaeological Park. 
• 🌍 Karanis. An agricultural town in the Ptolemaic Kingdom, inhabited until the early 5th century. The dry conditions here are most suitable for the preservation of papyri, which makes Karanis very well known by archaeologists. The papyri collected here are now part of the University of Michigan Papyrus Collection. 
• Hanging Mosque. 
• Waterwheels. 
• 🌍 Lake Qaroun. 
• 🌍 Temple of Qasr Qaroun. Su-Th 08:00-16:00, F-Sa 08:00-18:00. 
• 🌍 al-Nazla (pottery village) (النزله), ☏ +20 84 277 0295. 
• 🌍 Pyramid of Amenemhat III at Hawara, the last Pyramid in Egypt, Hawaret Al Maqtaa. 
• 🌍 Seila Pyramid, As Saleheyah. 
• 🌍 Lahun Barrage. 
• 🌍 Monastery of the angel Gabriel Jebel Alngulwn (Deir angel Bo stage) (دير الملاك غبريال بجبل النقلون (دير الملاك بو خشبة)), ☏ +20 122 743 8519. 
• North of Lake Qaroun:

• 🌍 Qasr Sagha Temple. (updated Aug 2020)
• 🌍 Greco-Roman city of Dimeh (near Qarun Lake). (updated Aug 2020)
• Petrified Forest
• Cannon Balls Valley

• 🌍 Wadi Rayan Protected Area. Waterfalls, round hills, springs area, lakes, bird watching. 

• Local crafts of Fayoum
• Glazed Pottery (Tunis Village, South west of Lake Qaroun)
• Pottery (El Nazla village, Ibshaway)
• Carpets (Desya Village)
• Palm products (Al A'lam -Ka'aby)
• Patch work (Khalta village, South west of Lake Qaroun)

• You can find local food of Fayum in one of the Eco lodges in Tunis village and the restaurants in lake Qaroun.
• Fast food is also served in all the restaurants of Fayum city,

Hotels in Fayoum vary from 5 star hotels to Eco lodges.

• Cairo is the must-see capital.
• Five oasis towns lie further out in the Western Desert.