First published: 13/04/20.

Boj 1

Oasis Of Fayoum

Oasis of Fayoum (On tentative list)

Oasis of Fayoum by Boj

Come inscription time, "Ancient Cultural Landscape of the Fayoum Oasis" would be an apt name adjustment, with emphasis on the word ancient, as the human-oasis interaction in the site has greatly evolved over time. 

Fayoum's most significant existing cultural treasures - the Hawara Pyramid, archaeological discoveries (ancient settlements), the Bahar Youssef Barrage, the network of irrigation canals, and other worship sites for Nile deities - are testaments to how the inhabitants managed the flooding and draining of the Nile. The photo (see attached) is taken in a temple called Qasr al Sagha, a pharaonic monument north of Lake Qarun. It is dedicated possibly to Sobek, the Crocodile God, and the crocodile is a sacred animal for Ancient Egyptians.


Throughout time, Fayoum has experienced abandonment and revival. And each time a group of people rediscovers its agricultural (and perhaps socio-religious) advantage, the first to be revived is its network of irrigation canals. As in any other oasis landscapes in the world, management of Fayoum should integrate sustainable agriculture, irrigation / water management, biodiversity conservation, and community engagement.

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