Gymnasium from Hellenistic era discovered in Fayoum

CAIRO – 7 November 2017: Egyptian-German archaeological mission has discovered remains of the first gymnasium in Egypt that dates back to the Hellenistic era in Egypt’s Fayoum on Monday.

The gymnasium features large meeting halls that were once adorned with statues, dining hall, and a courtyard in the main building. The site also featured a race track and a place that used to be a garden and said to be an ideal place for Greek learning, according to Ayman Ashmawi, head of the Ancient Egyptian Antiquities Sector.

The discovery was found in the area of Watfa located in the ancient village Philoteris that was launched by King Ptolemy II in the third century BC and was named after his sister Philotera.

Watfa was one of the old villages that was established by Ptolemies and featured 1,200 inhabitants, one third of which are Greek speaking residents.

Coming from the German Archaeological Institute (DAI), the mission was led by Cornelia Römer who explained in a released statement from the Ministry of Antiquities that the gymnasium was a private place established by rich people who wanted their villages to feature Greek architecture.

She added that the upper class of this community at the time who spoke Greek were trained in sports and engaged in philosophical discussions in this gymnasium that was also found in the entire Hellenistic world such Athens in Greece, Pergamon and Miletus in Asia Minor, and Pompeii in Italy.

This gymnasium proves the impact of Greek life not only in Alexandria but also in the countryside, according to Römer who mentions that Alexander the Great has made Egypt part of the Hellenistic world.

The area of Watfa has been witnessing excavations and surveys conducted by the German Archaeological Institute since 2010.