Cairo - Surroundings

The village of Harrania, a short distance southwest of Cairo, is noted for its woven carpets and rugs in native designs.

Some 8mi/13km northwest of Cairo, at Ausim, is the site of ancient Letopolis (Egyptian Khem), capital of the second nome of Lower Egypt, which is referred to in fourth Dynasty texts. The only remains so far discovered, however, date from the Late Period and Graeco-Roman times.

Near the village of Bahbit are remains of a Temple of Isis.

A further 12.5mi/20km northeast of the Nile Dam, just north of the provincial capital of Benha (pop. 38,000; production of attar of roses), on the right bank of the Damietta arm of the Nile, is Kom el-Atrib, a shapeless mound of rubble with the remains of ancient Athribis, capital of the 10th nome of Lower Egypt. The area has not yet been systematically investigated, but peasants digging for sebbakh (the rich soil found on ancient sites) have frequently made valuable finds, including a hoard of silver weighing almost 110lb/50kg.

El-Ayyat (west bank of the Nile), with the remains of ancient quays.

4mi/6km south of Old Cairo in the direction of Helwan lies the residential suburb of Maadi, with modern houses and villas set in gardens (many the residences of foreigners) and a yacht club. Near Maadi a prehistoric settlement (probably of the sixth millennium B.C.), first discovered in 1930, has recently been excavated.