The processional way
Lions and sphinxes.
Einsamer Schütze — CC BY-SA 3.0 · Roland Unger — CC BY-SA 3.0 · Einsamer Schütze — CC BY-SA 3.0 · Roland Unger — CC BY-SA 3.0 · Roland Unger — CC BY-SA 3.0 · Einsamer Schütze — CC BY-SA 3.0 · Roland Unger — CC BY-SA 3.0 · Roland Unger — CC BY-SA 3.0
The ruins of an ancient town on the desert edge of southwest Fayoum, with a temple to Renenutet, the cobra-headed goddess of the harvest, founded by the kings Amenemhat III and Amenemhat IV of the Middle Kingdom between 1855 and 1799 BC and later enlarged under the Ptolemies and Romans. The Middle Kingdom temple is unusually well preserved: a small hall with papyrus columns leads to a sanctuary of three chapels, and reliefs show the king before Renenutet and Sobek. A paved Ptolemaic processional way approaches it, guarded by lions and sphinxes. In Ptolemaic times the town, known as Narmouthis, was laid out on a grid about a kilometre long, with further temples, including one for two mummified crocodiles, and Byzantine churches; it was abandoned after the 9th century. A University of Milan team excavated it in the 1930s. Tickets are about EGP 120 for foreigners per the ministry list, and the site is open from 8 am to 5 pm. The road crosses desert, so go by car with a driver who knows the area, and bring water and sun protection.
Lions and sphinxes.
Goddess of the harvest.
Out in the desert.
On the desert edge, southwest Fayoum
About EGP 120 for foreigners per the ministry list; open 8 am to 5 pm.