Atfih | |
---|---|
Location in Egypt | |
Coordinates: 29°25′N 31°15′E / 29.417°N 31.250°ECoordinates: 29°25′N 31°15′E / 29.417°N 31.250°E | |
Country | Egypt |
Governorate | Cairo |
Population (2001) | |
• Total | 106,300 |
Time zone | EST (UTC+2) |
• Summer (DST) | +3 (UTC) |
Atfih (Egyptian Arabic: أطفيح Aṭfīḥ pronounced [ʔɑtˤˈfiːħ], Coptic: Ⲧⲡⲏϩ (Tpeh)) is a town in Middle Egypt. It was part of the now defunct Helwan Governorate from April 2008 to April 2011, after which it was reincorporated into the Giza Governorate. As of 2001, it has a population of 106,300 inhabitants.
The name is derived from Ancient Egyptian Tpyhwt, meaning the first of the cows, referring to Hathor. The name became Petpeh in Coptic, from which is derived the Arabic version Atfih (أطفيح). The city was also known in Greco-Roman Egypt as Aphroditopolis.
Atfih is located at the coordinates 29°25′00″N 31°15′00″E / 29.41667°N 31.25000°E, in the area of ancient Maten, Upper Egypt's lowest nome.
Atfih was known as Tpyhwtin in antiquity and Busiris (Aphroditopolis) to the Romans. Some of the Ancient Egyptian monuments discovered in the town include an animal necropolis, Greco-Roman tombs, and sepulchers of cows in huge limestone tombs.