|
The
ancient site of Karanis (Kom Aushim) lies
approximately 50 miles southeast of Cairo,
in the Faiyum Oasis. Founded as a military
settlement by Ptolemy II Philadelphus in
the 3rd Century B.C., the town flourished
as a center of agriculture and trade for
more than seven hundred years. Today, visitors
can see the remnants of a once bustling
rural community, including the foundations
of mud-brick homes, courtyards, and the
two main avenues that once ran through
the town.
Two
stone temples from the Ptolemaic period
remain standing, one of which dates
back to the 1st century B.C. and is dedicated
to the crocodile god Sobek (or Souchos,
as the Greeks called him). Tourists can
also visit the nearby Kom Aushim Museum
to see the impressive number of Greco-Roman
artifacts that have been discovered among
the ruins. Karanis was one of the first
Greco-Roman sites ever to be excavated
in Egypt, and has produced important
evidence for daily life might have
been like
for the average Egyptian living under Greek,
and subsequently Roman, rule. HOURS OF
OPERATION:
The ruins are open daily, 8 AM - 5
PM.
The Ptolemaic temples and Kom Aushim Museum
are open from 8 AM - 4 PM
TICKET COST:
for the temples: Egyptian: 2
LE
Foreign: 20 LE
for the museum: Egyptian: 2 LE
Foreign: 16 LE
50% reduction for bearers of International Student ID Card.
LOCATION:
Kom Aushim, Faiyum Oasis. , Approximately
50 miles southeast of Cairo, and 16 miles
north of Medinat El-Faiyum
DIRECTIONS:
BY BUS: Buses run regularly from Cairo to
Medinat el-Faiyum via Midan Ahmed Helmi.
BY
TRAIN: Trains run between Cairo and Medinat
el-Faiyum from Ramses or Giza Stations.
From
Medinat el-Fayum, three train lines run to
the El-Fayyum Oasis via El Wasta, Sennouris
(via Biahmu), and Abuqsah (via Ibshaway).
BY
CAR/TAXI: If driving from Cairo, cars reach
the Faiyum Oasis via the Desert
Road from Giza. If using a taxi service,
once in the area, ask for the Kom Aushim
Museum.
SPECIAL SECURITY NOTE: If you are not using
the local public transportation, please note
that security restrictions in the Faiyum
area may require foreign tourists to travel
with a police escort.
FACILITIES:
In
Medinat el-Faiyum, there is a kiosk for
tourist information
and a cafeteria.
CONTACT
INFO:
Fayyum Tourist Authority
Phone: (084) 634-2313. |
