Soknopaiou Nesos

Soknopaiou Nesos, now known as Dimeh es-Seba, was an ancient settlement located in the Faiyum Oasis of Egypt. Established in the 3rd century BCE during the Ptolemaic land reclamation efforts, the site became a prominent religious center with a remarkable temple dedicated to the crocodile-headed god Soknopaios. The town was strategically laid out along a 400-meter dromos, serving both processional and functional purposes, dividing the settlement into eastern and western quarters. The temple complex within the monumental mud-brick temenos housed various buildings, including sanctuaries and administrative structures. This site remained occupied until its abandonment in the mid-3rd century CE, with evidence of a brief reoccupation during the Byzantine period. The discovery of numerous papyri and artifacts highlights its historical significance, offering insights into the religious and social life of its inhabitants.