Dimeh Al Siba Fayoum tours, booking, prices, reviews
Dimeh Al Siba Fayoum is around 8 km south of Qasr El Sagha, towards Qarun’s Lake. In fact, the site is of the Graeco-Roman town of Soknopaiou Nesos. Today, it known as Dimai, or Dimeh El Siba. The town founded during the Ptolemaic Period. It appears like it built on an earlier neolithic settlement. Its Greek name means “Island of the Crocodile god” but it is doubtful that it was ever an island. The town site is remote which stood on the northern frontier of the Fayoum region. It is as a garrison for the Roman soldiers who protected the area from desert bandits.
Dimeh Al Siba Fayoum site well-preserved with a broad processional way. It known as the “Avenue of Lions”. In fact, it runs from the Gate of Soknopaios down to a quay. The quay located on the edge of the lake. In fact, the quay has two limestone piers and steps on its southern side. Moreover, the houses of the town located on either side of the avenue. They are typical of the multi-stores houses of the period.
Further details about Dimeh Al Siba Fayoum:
Within the ruins of the town were two temples which stood on a mound. In fact, they contained within mud-brick walls. The northern temple was at the end of the processional way. In fact, it now ruined. It dedicated to Soknopaios, who was a form of the Crocodile god Sobek. Only the stone foundations of this temple remain today. The southern temple constructed of mud-brick and stone and was of a later date.
The mud-brick walls of the town seen from quite a distance away. They are still 10 m high. The site strewn with debris and pot-sherds which cover the whole space of the temple area. A Roman cemetery situated to the south-west of the town. Dimeh Al Siba Fayoum excavated by a team from the University of Michigan in 1931.
