During the Old Kingdom (c. 2686–2181 BC) a settlement called Shedet (šdt) was established. it was the most significant centre of the cult of the crocodile god Sobek. And in result on Greek Koine it was named Κροκοδειλόπολις Krokodeilópolis and consequently in Latin Crocodilopolis. Under the Ptolemaic Kingdom,the name was changed to Ptolemais Euergétis. Under the Roman Empire it was called "Arsinoë in Arcadia".
See:
- Joshua J. Mark, "Fayum". Ancient History Encyclopedia. https://www.ancient.eu/Fayum/
- Carolin Arlt: Das Fayyûm in Hellenismus und Kaiserzeit. Fallstudien zum multikulturellen Leben in der Antike. Harrassowitz, Wiesbaden 2013
- Al-Fayyum, in Enciclopedia dell'arte antica, Istituto dell'Enciclopedia Italiana.1994-https://www.treccani.it/enciclopedia/fayyum_res-1fcde1ba-66b7-11e1-b491-d5ce3506d72e_%28Enciclopedia-dell%27-Arte-Antica%29
