Crocodilopolis-Arsinoe

To the north of Medinet el-Fayyum rises the Kiman Faris ("Horseman's Hill"), with the remains of ancient Crocodilopolis-Arsinoe, one of the largest ancient sites in Egypt, with an area of 560 acres. Much of the mound has been removed by brick makers or peasants digging for the fertile soil (sebbakh) found on ancient sites.

The ancient Egyptian name of the town was Shedet. It was the center of the cult of the crocodile headed water god Sobek (Suchos), the protective deity of the whole of the lake area. His sacred animal was the crocodile, and the Greeks, therefore, called the town Crocodilopolis. Politically it never seems to have been a place of any consequence. By extending the town, building Greek temples and schools and