Medinet Madi (Madinat Madi) in the Fayoum of Egypt

It is likely that the typical tourist to Egypt will not, on his first visit, tour the Fayoum region, though for those interested in nature, or excavations, and perhaps it should be. However, for lovers of antiques, there are simply not many other places, perhaps to see a little more comfortable, Fayoum and not particularly promoted by travel agencies. However, Fayoum and provides many important historical monuments. Much of this history of the Greco-Roman period, although some are much older, including the city's past, which was considered by many one of the most important temples in the Fayoum.


Located about 30 kilometers southwest of Medinet Fayoum, Medinet Madi, which means "city of the past" was, during the Greco-Roman period known Narmouthis (city Renenutet). And recorded for the first time in modern times by Napoleon's flight to Egypt. Greenville and Hunt was aware of their existence, but no excavations. In the early 20th, Jouguet looked at the site and the first to suggest that there are two different cities, a measure of forty thousand square meters located in the eastern mound, and the last three or four times larger, in Kom Bank. German archaeologists began working there in 1910, but the war disrupted the efforts of this award and was supposed to be later from the University of Milan.
During the first season of drilling in Milan, led by a. Vogliano, the remains of a temple dedicated to Isis Hermouthis, the Greek version of Renenutet discovered. Although later transferred to the Greco-Roman Museum in Alexandria, pilasters incorporated in the structure of the temple on the Greek goddess of hymns. However, in a single line of the hymns which are also referred to earlier in the Middle Kingdom temple on the site dedicated to Amenemhat III. This renowned temple later discovered in the second season of excavations. He also revealed that sand was the Ptolemaic Temple II, which coincided with the Kingdom of East and one. However, this series of excavations only lasted two additional seasons. Later, it was not until 1966 under the supervision of Dr. Edda Bresciani that the excavations of the session.
Today, the structure of the most interesting is, of course, the Temple of the South East facing Britain, and in addition to that of Ptolemy, situated on a hill behind the Italian excavations in the ancient city center. Although there is little of this building, and although there is debris everywhere, and maintained the temple is maintained well. Every so often, the authorities in the age to come clean and sand, but usually you can see from the top of the hill, and the processional way, which is part of the building Ptolemy, flanked by sphinxes, lions, these days, and a lot of other acts of construction period Ptolemaic. Humans have facial features may represent one of the Ptolemaic kings. On the right side of the front door smiling lion, legs crossed, while the left inner wall is inscribed with the assistance of the gods, and perhaps Hermouthis, and breast-feeding her son.
Examples of dark sandstone, within two rooms of the structure of the Kingdom of East is at home, and sound, and are therefore very rare in the United States a huge built environment. In fact, this is one of the few buildings that allows visitors to experience a sanctuary, as seen by the priests of old. This temple was dedicated to Sobek has Renenutet spouse (the protector of the harvest season, and barns) along with his son, and a form of Horus. Renenutet these assertions are very rare. Inside there is a representation of Amenemhat III and his son, Amenemhet IV, who finished the temple, and offers to Sobek and Renenutet. Many of the hieroglyphic inscriptions on the walls still exist, and although thin, and often can still be read. All the entries on the western side of the temple belong to Amenemhat III, while in the eastern wall are those of the child.
This part of the temple is in fact very small, with the hall of columns, or perhaps more accurately, two columns, papyrus porch leading to the shrine along with three churches (niches, in fact), which occupies the back. Large columns in the first room papyriform Renenutet patterns are identical, except that the column on the left has two names of Amenemhat III, while the right belong to Amenemhat IV.
On the wall on the left side of this room is to reduce a purification of the king. Here the god Sobek, the crocodile is recognized by the snout facing the king, while Anubis and behind the king. Two of the gods to purify water at the head of the king. As we see in such other inscriptions, and drops of water in the form of Ankh, the hieroglyphic symbol of life. Register here are still readable, and can be translated as follows: "You will be purified, and the owner of" Ka "clean water for life."
There is a small entrance leads to the second chamber and the last. Corridor walls inscribed with the formula for his dedication in the service of Renenutet God. Very interesting, just inside the inner chamber, on both sides of the door, and another is dedicated Renenutet gods, but here, for reasons largely unknown, and the name of Amenemhat within the cartridge is removed.
This inner chamber of the oldest part of the temple complex is dominated by three large niches built in the back wall. Specialized on the left (west) contains a scene depicting the pharaoh Cone ointment progress - molding the form of a goddess Renenutet. In this installment of the Renenutet, you can see clearly at the head of your snake. Away from the grotesque, a very elegant, with a lid decorated Cobra shoulders and hairstyle. On the opposite wall a scene of offerings to Sobek. Showing similar scenes adorn the walls of the niches for others, which aims to preserve the groups that represent Renenutet statue surrounded by the kings Mon In fact, the largest specialized center are the remains of that group.
In particular, it is likely the wife and mother of Amenemhat III Amenemhet IV, Hetepti, is the only known so far from this temple. Temple was restored during the period of the family 19. In this temple there is also a mud-brick warehouses and other institutions.
Small Ptolemaic temple which is located on the back with the Kingdom of East Temple is the modern counterpart. Perhaps Ptolemy IX Soter II, which adds two courtyards leading to the chapel contains the central altar, flanked by two small chapels. Here, we found the doors and the threshold of stone. Greek inscriptions are badly worn and mostly unreadable. Of the best-preserved relief on the outer wall of the left and one enters the courtyard. Here, Delicious, smiling Sobek represents a series of terrible teeth.
Ptolemy's expansion in the temple include the shape of the convoy to the south with black and the Sphinx (in both the Egyptian and Greek style), which passes through the columns of the kiosk, which leads ultimately to two of the biggest pillars of the gallery. The booth with eight columns were present along the processional route.


Very recently, in 1995, and Italy in Pisa, and University of Messina, who was excavating at the site since 1966, also found the door to Ptolemy, to the east of the temple, and further investigation in another temple dedicated to Sobek was discovered under the rubble. This is the second temple built of brick and stone and the threshold of the door, with its axis at right angles to the temple of the oldest. Tablets and papyrus were also found in the wreckage, including an important document written Demotic prophetic. Apparently, in 1930, a series of texts of some importance (known as Manichaean Psalm Book, Part II) was also detected in this general location by Carl Schmitt, who is believed to date from about 340 AD.
The Panel has also recently drilled the structure of the dome on the north side of the temple again, but still weak and preservation. On the north side of the courtyard of the temple and the custody of the children with a crocodile was discovered dozens of eggs in different stages of maturity.
Italy, who works for the construction of three-dimensional model of the features in the region to study the development schedule for the location of the Kingdom of the East during the periods of Greek and Romanian, also discovered a large number of Romanian cities and ten Christian churches in the sixth and seventh century, noting that the site activity has, perhaps, at least to the Roman era. .
This ancient city is more important on a small hill overseeing the strategic location guarding the entrance to the south-west of the Fayoum, and was probably occupied at the earliest time until the prehistoric times.
We do not know what happened to put an end to the past share the ancient city. Seems to have simply been abandoned, although it had a visible presence, even in the Christian era, and beyond. A romantic poem of the Middle Ages, known as "The Story of Abu Zaid, who was often said in cafes across the Middle East and even the Exodus from Egypt, and states that the company almost destroyed the city's past popular war hero and fantasy, Abu Zeid, said that led to the tribes of the Nejd desert through Egypt on his way to Tunisia in the tenth century atheist, on the road, and passed in the old town at the city's past, and asked the Governor, the King's past, for food and housing. Unfortunately for Madison, refused to do so, even Abu Zeid pounded the city, and killed the king and all his flock, and I am in need of food and shelter.
Since the rise of the temples that there are good views of the Fayoum Basin in the east basin Gharaq sub-Saharan, which was discovered in the north and west. The temple is one of the most isolated areas and romance in the Fayoum region. This is one of the most difficult to achieve in Fayoum, but tourists who will be putting more effort in many instances you find a monument to all your account, and a lot of time to look around. The proof is recommended.