El Karyun | |
Native Name: | الكريون |
Native Name Lang: | ar |
Pushpin Map: | Egypt |
Pushpin Label Position: | bottom |
Pushpin Map Caption: | Location in Egypt |
Coordinates: | 31.1352°N 30.1935°W |
Subdivision Type: | Country |
Subdivision Name: | Egypt |
Subdivision Type1: | Governorate |
Subdivision Name1: | Beheira |
Unit Pref: | Metric |
Population Total: | 14,723 |
Population As Of: | 2006 |
Population Density Km2: | auto |
Timezone1: | EST |
Utc Offset1: | +2 |
El Karyun is a village in the Beheira Governorate of Egypt.
Known in Late Antiquity as Khaireon or Khaireou, 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.
The exact etymology of the village's name is unknown. Possible explanations include derivation from an unattested Greek name Khairios or Ancient Egyptian toponym khrouou.[1] [2]
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" 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]