Some historical discoveries emerge from archaeological excavations. Others are found buried in archives, forgotten by generations. Such is the story of the Map of Fayoum of 1844 – 1260 AH, a remarkable document that disappeared from public knowledge for many years. Published only once, in 1950, in an edition of merely one thousand copies, the map never entered mainstream historical or scientific discourse. Today, through this article, we are pleased to make a high-quality digital scan of this extraordinary document freely available to scholars, researchers, students, and all those interested in the history of Fayoum and Egyptian cartography.
Hidden in the desert landscape about 35 kilometers southwest of Fayoum city—and just 4 kilometers away from the well-known Medinet Madi site, lies the remarkable yet lesser-known Ghoran archaeological site. Spanning roughly 200 by 200 meters, this ancient mound is scattered with the remains of limestone and mudbrick walls, along with numerous pottery sherds.
The legend of Kiman Faris was handed down by word of mouth through many generations. The following stories were collated to form this magical supernatural tale. It is a tale of love, revenge, magic and destruction!
Published by the American University in Cairo Press, the Fayoum Pottery book by Mr. Neil Hewison is a lavishly illustrated book with over 150 full-color photographs of unique designs and rare methods, providing an in-depth look at the pottery produced in the Fayoum. The book reveals the stories of the three villages and the skilled potters who make their living in Fayoum, looking at how they learned their trade and how they work, from the preparation of the clay to the formation of the pots on the wheel or by hand, to the decoration, the glazing, and the firing, and finally to the display or distribution and sale of the finished product.
In 1936, Labib Habachi, the inspector of the Department of Antiquities at Fayoum at that time, made some soundings in the site near to the Pyramid of Hawara in which are situated the ruins of some building of mud bricks. Owing to the transfer of Labib Habachi to another inspectorate, he could not continue the work.
