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The Lake House
This is so exciting! In the process of moving in. I simply cannot describe how beautiful the sunset is right now over the lake. More later.
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Goddess Sekhmet rises from the Fayoum at sunset  Gift from Muireadhach Niafer
The Fayoum (spelled several different ways), sometimes referred to as the Fayoum Oasis even though it is not a true Oasis, is situated not too far south of Cairo. It takes its name from the Coptic word, Efiom or Phiom or Fiūm or Payomj, meaning "the lake" or "the sea." During very ancient times, it was actually a sea, and today is well known for the finds of great, ancient whales. In Ancient World time, it was known as Lake She-resy.  The Fayoum has come in and out of favor with tourists to Egypt over the years. Only a few years ago, it remained a hunter's paradise but hunting also has its more ancient legends in the Fayoum. It was here, Diodorus tells us, that King Menes, the uniter of Upper and Lower Egypt, went on a hunting trip and almost lost his life when his own dogs attacked him near the lake. However, this legend records that his life was saved by a crocodile which carried him across the water to safety. As a reward, he declared the lake a sanctuary for crocodiles and founded the city of Shedet, known to the Greeks as Krocodilopolis but today called "Kiman Faris." His city became the cult center of the crocodile god, Sobek (Sebek, Sobeq). Though the Fayoum was identified with Nun, the primeval ocean, the origin of all life in ancient mythology, Sobek remained the chief deity of the region throughout dynastic and Greek times and into the Roman era. All the known temples were dedicated, or at least co-dedicated, to one or another of his aspects. A sacred crocodile kept at the main temple at Krocodilopolis was seen and described by both Herodotus and Strabo. Nevertheless, during the early dynastic times, the Fayoum remained mostly undeveloped, much of it probably marsh and swamp, though it was a favored hunting ground for the Egyptian elite. During the Old Kingdom, it was known as Ta-she, or She-resy (the Southern Lake). Then in the 12th Dynasty, numerous Egyptian kings brought new life to the area. They took up residence at Lisht nearby in the Nile Valley. The founder of this dynasty, Amenemhat I, It was probably Amenemhat during the first half of the 20th century BC who flooded the Fayoum to create the famous Lake Moeris, which was described 1,500 years later by Herodotus. Amenembat built his pyramid at Lisht. His successor, Senusret I, erected an obelisk of Abgig, and later, the Lahun pyramid was built for Senusret II. Amenemhat III, who had a long peaceful reign towards the end of the 19th century BC, added a number of monuments to the region, including the Colossi of Biahmu (al Sanam), the temples at Madinat Madi and Kiman Faris. At Hawara, he built the famous Labyrinth and his own pyramid, the only one to be built away from the Nile Valley. His successor, Amenemhat IV, also worked at the temple of Madinat Madi. However, after these Middle Kingdom kings, interest in the area dropped off once again until the Ptolemies and their Greek rule (after the death of Alexander the Great in 323 BC). Really, very little is known about the Fayoum during Egypt's New Kingdom. We also know that there was a thriving tourist trade even then, when pilgrims would come to feed the sacred crocodiles with fried fish and honey cakes. http://www.touregypt.net/featurestories/fayoumhistory.htm
 The Osiris Ani ~ whose word is truth ~ saith: I am Sobek, who dwelleth amid his terrors. I am Sobek, and I seize [my prey] like a ravening beast. I am the great Fish which is in Kamui. I am the Lord to whom bowings and prostrations are made in Sekhem. And the Osiris Ani is the lord to whom bowings and prostrations are made in Sekhem. -- The Book of the Dead, The Chapter of Making the Transformation into the Crocodile God (Sobek)
Lower Egypt, The Roman era Across the desert I ride with Amon, the abrasive, sinister one, whose presence makes my head buzz, and Amphitrus, my language tutor. I have much time to ponder the state of this country. Egypt appears to be no more than forgotten dust trodden underfoot by barbarians like Amon. We are riding away from Akhetaten, the city of the Pharoah, the crumbled ruins of which Amon and his companions call "Tel-Amarana." As far as I can tell, we are heading towards the great Lake She-Resy. In this time, there is a city by the shore of the lake, called Shedet. It was home to the cult of Sebek, the crocodile god. In the three days it takes to reach the great inland lake, I have learned a bit of important vocabulary, and I'm beginning to gain some understanding of the grammar of the language that Amphitrus is trying to teach me. I learn, after some discussion enhanced with a lot of body language and drawing pictures in the sand, that it is the native language now spoken by the people who live here, and not the language of the "Romans" who have conquered Egypt. Amon is an Egyptian. Amphitrus says he is a Roman, but he is not from Rome. Since we already know that Rome dominates a vast area, he could have been born in any of the lands we knew, and many we don't, and still he may call himself a "Roman." Amphitrus doesn't seem to like me. Or maybe he's afraid of me. He answers my questions, and continues tutoring me diligently in Latin, but he shows no friendliness, and prefers to avoid me when not engaged in language instruction. He doesn't seem overly friendly with Amon either; but they exchange words now and then. Amon seems to be his superior, but I can't decide whether Amphitrus is a slave, a hireling, a lackey or what manner of servant he may be. Amphitrus confirms that the region known as She-Resy is still an inhabited oasis. He calls the lake "Moeris," and indicates the city of Shedet and calls it "Krocodilopolis." The priests of Sebek were not friendly to the Pharoah - they were no more eager than the priests of Amon-Re to accept Akhenaten's monotheism. The area of She-Resy (to which I had never been) was said to be soggy, marshy and entirely unlike the desert that surrounds it. I knew of men who described it as a sinister place, but they were dismissed as superstitious. The ride takes several days, but in due time, a shimmering oasis on the horizon resolves itself, turns out not be a mirage like all the others, slowly becomes a blue-gray blur, growing in clarity as we ride closer. I see bushes at first and then trees. The soil darkens and becomes firmer, loose sand giving way to moist earth. And I beging to see other people for the first time - mostly desert tribesmen, not much different from those who inhabited the deserts in this time. They are headed in the same direction as our trio - towards a baked mud and clay city lying on the shores of the Lake that is said to be the birthplace of the universe, the sacred waters from which the Earth arose. For some reason, this excites me. The air feels laden in a way I cannot explain. It feels like a place full of expectations. To be continued Sepat in Lower Egypt Faiyum area: She-resy - The Fayium: mer-wer (the lake) - Krokodilopolis(Arsinoe) [ancient names] Medinet el-Faiyum [modern name]: SOBEK Medinet-el-Fayum, at the ancient town Shedyet (Gr: Crocodilopolis) was one of the two main cult centers in ancient Egypt for Sobeq. The earliest remains of a temple for Sobeq dates from the 12th Dynasty (1985-1795 BC), which was restored by Ramesses II (1279-1213 BC). 
Sobek, Sebek, ~ multiple other spellings ~ or (Gr)Suchos 'Watching over you'. This deity is symbolic of the might of the King. His cult rose to prominence in the 12th and 13th Dynasty, when the name Sobekhotep was held by eight rulers. The last of the kings in the 12th Dynasty was the first definitely attested female king, called Sobeqneferu, 'The Beauties of Sobeq'. Sobeq is first known from Old Kingdom texts as 'Rager'. At this period he is called the son of Nit, and in some myths Set is said to be his father. In the Middle Kingdom he began to be assimilated into the cult of Amun, like many other deities. He is most often depicted as a crocodile, wearing the sun disc on his head, which indicates a connection to Re. In this form he is often perched on a shrine or an altar. More seldom is he depicted as a human-headed crocodile wearing an atef crown and carrying a was scepter and an ankh. He is also depicted in crocodile form with a falcon's head which shows a relationship with Heru. In this connection Sobeq is a protector, a healer and one who avenges wrongdoers. Sobeq is called 'Lord of stretches of water and of fishes' and among the deities related to water, Sobeq is the most important one. Another title is 'Lord of Bakhu', by which is meant the mountain of the horizon where he was said to have a temple made of carnelian. As he is a god of water, the Nile is said to issue from his sweat and "he made the herbage green". According to some myths Sobeq belongs in the underworld from where he could be called upon to get rid of bothers and troubles of different kinds, by using the phrase 'to Sobeq with it!'.
From a special friend 
The blue reminded me of The Lake and blue skies above ~ Signor Grande Romulus
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