El Karyun
Village in Beheira Governorate, Egypt
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El Karyun (Arabic: الكريون) is a village in the Beheira Governorate of Egypt.
El Karyun
الكريون | |
|---|---|
  El Karyun Location in Egypt | |
| Coordinates: 31°8′6.75″N 30°11′36.67″E | |
| Country |  Egypt |
| Governorate | Beheira |
| Population (2006) | |
• Total | 14,723 |
| Time zone | UTC+2 (EET) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC+3 (EEST) |
Known in Late Antiquity as Khaireon (Ancient Greek: Χαιρέον) or Khaireou (Ancient Greek: Χαιρέου, Coptic: ⲭⲉⲣⲉⲩ, Latin: Chaereu), it was an important town and a port on the Canopic branch of the Nile (modern Kanoubiya canal) and a starting point of a canal connecting it to Alexandria.
Etymology
The exact etymology of the village's name is unknown. Possible explanations include derivation from an unattested Greek name Khairios (Ancient Greek: *Χαιριος) or Ancient Egyptian toponym khrouou.[1][2]
History
The town was probably founded during the reign of the 30th dynasty as a customs port on the Nile under the name Henit. A marble Nilometer was found at the site of the village.[3]
The Chronicle of John of Nikiu mentions the town and it's canal built by Cleopatra. Theophanes states that the canal was dug in 459. Emperor Leo I expanded the town and Justinian I expanded the canal.
In the turmoil of 7th century general Bonosus retreated to Khaireon (mentioned by John of Nikiu under the name Demqaruni, a combination of Coptic words for "town" (Coptic: ϯⲙⲓ) and town's name).
During the Arab conquest of Egypt the commander of Khaireon, Theodore, retreated to Alexandria and surrendered the city without a fight.
Ibn Hawqal in the 10th century describes Karyun as a flourishing town that was probably a centre of a kura and a bishopric.[4]