The Fayoum: History and Guide

by R. Neil Hewison

The Fayoum, a large and exceptionally fertile depression in Egypt’s Western Desert, some 90 kilometers southwest of Cairo, is a region both rich in history and outstanding in natural beauty. Its historical legacy includes temples, pyramids, and towns from the Middle Kingdom and the Ptolemaic Period, as well as churches, monasteries, and mosques from later times. Neil Hewison here outlines the history (and prehistory) of the Fayoum and its lakes, describes the agriculture and rural life of the region, then guides the visitor around the province site by site, never averse to taking an interesting detour along the way. Originally published in 1984, this guide to one of Egypt’s most distinctive and beautiful regions quickly became regarded as a classic. The text has been thoroughly revised and updated for this new edition, including a new section on the recently declared UNESCO World Heritage Site of Wadi al-Hitan, the Valley of the Whales. The book is illustrated with color photographs and two maps. Recommended by Lonely Planet.

Genres: Travel, History

124 pages, Paperback

First published October 11, 2004

Reviews

[Mohieddin · Rating 3 out of 5]

The Fayoum, through British eyes, is a good book, though full of the British style sarcastic style, that only Brits would catch. It is a quasi-satisfying book about the history and geography of the region. The societal problems, the behavior, eating recipes and style of clothing were very superficially touched, in a belief of being out of scope and for the sake of writing a brief guide book, though leaving to us readers, loops in understanding the depth of things. It would have been more useful if small maps, of the plethora of tips for direction, were included beside the description in each page. I hope, somehow that there will be new updates in a next edition of the book, viewing the changes that occurred in the last ten years.

[Nicky · Rating 3 out of 5]

Some of the info is obviously outdated

[Laila Mushahwar · Rating 1 out of 5]

Fayoum is such a special place; it deserves so much more than this mediocre publication.