Everything about Fayyum totally explained
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Faiyum (
Arabic: الفيوم;
Coptic: ) is a city in Middle Egypt and the capital of the
Faiyum Governorate. It is located 130 Km southwest of
Cairo and occupies part of the ancient site of
Crocodilopolis. Its name in English is also spelled as
Fayum,
Fayoum,
Al Fayyum or
El Faiyūm. It was formerly named
Madīnet el Faiyūm (
Arabic for
the city of Faiyum).
The name Faiyum (and its spelling variations) may also refer to the
Faiyum Oasis, although it's commonly used by
Egyptians today to refer to the city.
Etymology
The modern name of the city comes from
Coptic /
efiom/peiom (whence the proper name
payoum), meaning
the Sea or
the Lake, which in turn comes from late
Egyptian pA y-m of the same meaning, a reference to the nearby
Lake Moeris.
Modern city
Faiyum has several large bazaars,
mosques, baths and a much-frequented weekly market. The canal called
Bahr Yussef runs through the city, its banks lined with houses. There are two bridges over the river: one of three arches, which carries the main street and bazaar, and one of two arches, over which is built the
Qaitbay mosque. Mounds north of the city mark the site of
Arsinoe, known to the
ancient Greeks as
Crocodilopolis, where in ancient times the sacred
crocodile kept in
Lake Moeris was worshipped.
Faiyum mummy portraits
Faiyum is the source of some famous
death masks or
mummy portraits painted during the
Roman occupation of the area. The Egyptians continued their practice of burying their dead, despite the Roman preference for
cremation. While under the control of the Roman Empire, Egyptian death masks were painted on wood in a pigmented
wax technique called
encaustic—the
Faiyum mummy portraits represent this technique.
Further Information
Get more info on 'Fayyum'.
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