# Faiyum

> city in Egypt

**Wikidata**: [Q203299](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q203299)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Faiyum)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/faiyum

## Summary
Faiyum is a major city in Egypt, serving as the capital of Faiyum Governorate, with a population exceeding 500,000 as of 2021. It is a historically significant archaeological site and a key administrative center in Lower Egypt, known for its ancient origins and cultural heritage.

## Key Facts
- **Location**: Coordinates 29.3° N, 30.8333° E; elevation 29 meters above sea level.
- **Population**: 519,047 (estimated as of July 1, 2021).
- **Time Zone**: UTC+02:00.
- **Administrative Roles**: Capital of Faiyum Governorate and Markaz al Fayyūm.
- **Historical Names**: Crocodilopolis (Krokodilopolis), Medinet el-Fayum, and others.
- **Geopolitical Context**: Part of Lower Egypt.
- **UN/LOCODE**: EGIYM.
- **Identifiers**: VIAF ID 167693603; GeoNames ID 361320; GND ID 5103887-0.
- **Language Support**: Featured in 64 Wikipedia languages, including Arabic, English, French, and Russian.
- **Cultural Designations**: Category for people born/died here; home to the Fayum mummy portraits.

## FAQs
- **Where is Faiyum located?**  
  Faiyum is situated in northern Egypt, approximately 100 km southwest of Cairo, within the Faiyum Governorate. Its coordinates are 29.3° N, 30.8333° E.

- **What is Faiyum historically known for?**  
  It was an important city in ancient Egypt, originally named Crocodilopolis, dedicated to the crocodile god Sobek. It is renowned for the Fayum mummy portraits from the Roman era.

- **How large is Faiyum's population?**  
  As of 2021, the city’s population is estimated at 519,047, making it a major urban center in Egypt.

- **Why does Faiyum have multiple names?**  
  Its name variations (e.g., Fayoum, Crocodilopolis) reflect its historical and cultural significance across different languages and eras, from ancient Greek to modern Arabic.

- **What administrative roles does Faiyum hold?**  
  It serves as the capital of both Faiyum Governorate and the municipal district Markaz al Fayyūm, playing a central role in regional governance.

## Why It Matters
Faiyum is a critical nexus of history, culture, and administration in Egypt. As one of the oldest continuously inhabited cities in the region, it bridges ancient traditions—such as its reverence for Sobek and its Roman-era mummy portraits—with modern urban life. Its strategic location in the Faiyum Oasis has supported agriculture and settlement for millennia, while its administrative roles underscore its ongoing relevance to Egypt’s political and economic structure.

## Notable For
- **Ancient Crocodilopolis**: A major religious center dedicated to Sobek, featuring a sacred crocodile sanctuary.
- **Fayum Mummy Portraits**: Home to the famous Greco-Roman funerary art, offering insights into cultural blending in antiquity.
- **Oasis Agriculture**: Historically significant for its fertile land and water management systems, sustaining life in a desert environment.
- **Administrative Hub**: Serves as the capital of Faiyum Governorate, a role dating back to pharaonic times.
- **Multilingual Heritage**: Documented in over 60 languages, reflecting its global historical and scholarly importance.

## Body

### History
Faiyum was founded in antiquity as **Crocodilopolis** (Krokodilopolis), a cult center for the crocodile deity Sobek. The city’s strategic position in the Faiyum Oasis supported agricultural development, with irrigation systems dating to the Middle Kingdom (circa 2055–1650 BCE). During the Ptolemaic and Roman periods, it flourished as a cultural and administrative hub, producing the iconic Fayum mummy portraits (1st–3rd centuries CE). These artworks, blending Greek and Egyptian traditions, are now held in museums worldwide.

### Geography and Climate
The city is located at **29.3° N, 30.8333° E**, approximately 29 meters above sea level. It lies in the **Faiyum Oasis**, a natural depression connected to the Nile by the Bahr Yussef canal. The oasis’s fertile soil and freshwater resources have sustained agriculture for millennia, despite the arid desert climate. Nearby **Qarun Lake**, Egypt’s largest natural lake, plays a key role in the local ecosystem.

### Administrative Role
Faiyum serves as the capital of **Faiyum Governorate** and the municipal district **Markaz al Fayyūm**. This dual administrative function underscores its importance in regional governance, a legacy extending from pharaonic administration to modern Egyptian bureaucracy.

### Demographics
As of 2021, the city’s population is **519,047**, reflecting its status as a major urban center. The population has grown steadily, driven by its economic and administrative significance. Demographic data is sourced from citypopulation.de, a reliable aggregator of urban statistics.

### Cultural Significance
Faiyum’s historical layers are evident in its **aliases**, which include **Madinat al-Fayyum** (Arabic) and **Medinet el-Fayum** (Coptic). The city is a focal point for archaeological research, with excavations revealing temples, tombs, and artifacts spanning millennia. Its **mummy portraits**, discovered in the 19th century, are celebrated for their lifelike detail and cultural synthesis.

### Infrastructure and Economy
Modern Faiyum balances historical preservation with contemporary development. Key infrastructure includes the **Faiyum Waterwheel**, a traditional irrigation tool featured in its Wikimedia image. Agriculture remains a economic pillar, alongside tourism driven by sites like the **Hawara Pyramid** and the **Faiyum Museum**. The city is accessible via road and rail networks linking it to Cairo and other regional hubs.

### Global Recognition
Faiyum’s significance is reflected in its **multilingual Wikipedia presence** (64 languages) and inclusion in authoritative reference works like the **Encyclopædia Britannica** (11th edition) and **TDV Encyclopedia of Islam**. It holds identifiers from institutions such as the **Library of Congress** (ID n82063726) and **GeoNames** (ID 361320), ensuring its global academic and cultural visibility.

## References

1. archINFORM
2. Freebase Data Dumps. 2013
3. Czech National Authority Database
4. [Source](http://www.citypopulation.de/Egypt-Cities.html)
5. GeoNames
6. [Source](https://service.unece.org/trade/locode/eg.htm)
7. [Source](http://www.geonames.org/361320)
8. [archINFORM](https://www.archinform.net/service/wd_aiort.php)
9. [Source](https://islamansiklopedisi.org.tr/feyyum)
10. museum-digital