Medinet Madi

Medinet Madi holds the only temple in the Faiyum surviving from the Middle Kingdom, built by Amenemhat III and IV for Sobek and the cobra goddess Renenutet, and later extended by the Ptolemies who added a processional avenue lined with stone lions and sphinxes running up to it. Walking that avenue toward the small dark sanctuary is the experience the site is known for. Around and above the temple lie the remains of the Graeco-Roman town of Narmouthis, and on top of that again a group of Coptic churches from the fifth and sixth centuries, so three religious layers sit on one mound. Italian missions have worked here for decades and the site has been progressively cleared and consolidated, but it remains almost entirely free of visitors.

The main sights

• The sphinx and lion avenue - a Ptolemaic processional way to the sanctuary.
• A Middle Kingdom temple - the only one of its date in the Faiyum.
• Coptic churches on the mound - a fifth-century layer above the town.
• The town of Narmouthis - Graeco-Roman streets around the temple.

When to go

October to April. Two hours. Late afternoon light along the avenue is the reason to time it. The site is remote enough that you will very likely be alone.

Before you go

The final approach is a rough desert track and ordinary cars struggle; a driver who knows the way is close to essential. There is no visitor infrastructure of any kind. Signage is minimal and the layers are hard to read without preparation. The guard will expect a tip and may need to be found first.

Nearby

Wadi El Rayan lies west; Faiyum city and the waterwheels are north-east.

Key facts