Scattered through the vast expanse of stone and sand that makes up
Egypt's Western Desert are several oases. These islands of green in the
midst of the Sahara owe their existence to springs and wells drawing on
ancient aquifers. In antiquity, as today, they supported agricultural
communities, going back to Neolithic times but expanding greatly in the
millennium from the Saite pharaohs to the Roman emperors. New
technologies of irrigation and transportation made the oases integral
parts of an imperial economy.
Amheida, ancient Trimithis, was one of those oasis communities. Located
in the western part of the Dakhla Oasis, it was an important regional
center, reaching a peak in the Roman period before being abandoned. Over
the past decade, excavations at this well-preserved site have revealed
its urban layout and brought to light houses, streets, a bath, a school,
and a church. The only standing brick pyramid of the Roman period in
Egypt has been restored. Wall-paintings, temple reliefs, pottery, and
texts all contribute to give a lively sense of its political, religious,
economic, and cultural life. This book presents these aspects of the
city's existence and its close ties to the Nile valley, by way of long
desert roads, in an accessible and richly illustrated fashion.