{"id":38713,"date":"2022-10-02T21:33:50","date_gmt":"2022-10-02T21:33:50","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/2022.exploreegypttours.com\/el-fayoum-oasis\/"},"modified":"2022-10-02T21:33:50","modified_gmt":"2022-10-02T21:33:50","slug":"el-fayoum-oasis","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.exploreegypttours.com\/en\/el-fayoum-oasis\/","title":{"rendered":"EL Fayoum Oasis"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Egypt has 6 oases but EL Fayoum is the largest one. It is located at 70 Km southwest of Cairo. EL Fayoum oasis mixes between natural beauty, ancient history, and heritage sites such as Lahun Pyramid, Hawara Pyramid, Wadi El-Rayan Protectorate, Wadi El- Hitan, Lake Qarun, Qasr Qarun, Kranis city, Tunis Village, and waterwheels.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What is the origin of EL Fayoum word?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

EL Fayoum word is derived from the ancient Egyptian word (Baym) meaning sea or lake that refers to the existence of a great lake in this place.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What is the history of EL Fayoum oasis<\/strong>?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The history of EL Fayoum began during ancient times, but the golden age of this oasis started when it became the capital of ancient Egypt (named Itjtawy<\/a>) during the 12th<\/sup> dynasty, Middle kingdom. Additionally, it was the center for worshipping the god Sobek.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

During this period EL Fayoum was distinguished by economic and structural prosperity whereas it houses the kings\ufffd\ufffd\ufffd pyramids and funerary temples dating back to the 12th<\/sup> dynasty. Most of these pyramids are in poor condition.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

EL Fayoum had a great position also during the Greco-Roman, Christian and Islamic periods.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

1 – Lahun Pyramid<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Lahun pyramid was built by king Senusret II during the 12th<\/sup> dynasty, Middle Kingdom. It was made of mud bricks and coated with limestone for ensuring the stability of the pyramid construction.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

2 – Hawara Pyramid<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Hawara pyramid was built by Amenemhet III during the 12th <\/sup>dynasty, Middle Kingdom. It is known also with the Black Pyramid because it is made of mud bricks. Unfortunately; the pyramid is at risk of collapse because of the many architectural mistakes in its construction. Besides, as usual, in most of the pyramids of the middle kingdom, this pyramid distinguishes with the existence of mazes that help hide the burial chamber from grave robbers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

3 – Valley of the Whales or Wadi El- Hitan           <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Wadi El- Hitan is a fossil area that is a part of Wadi El-Rayan Protectorate was discovered in 1936. It dates back 40 million years. UNESCO considers it as a World Natural Heritage Site. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

What can be seen in Wadi El- Hitan?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n