The important commercial and industrial city of El-Mansura (Mansoura), chief town of the Governorate of Daqahliya and the seat of a university associated with the University of Cairo and of a college of technology, lies in the eastern half of the Nile Delta on the right bank of the Damietta arm (in classical times known as the Phatnitic arm) of the Nile, from which the Bahr el-Sughayyar branches off here to flow into Lake Manzala. It is located 55 km (34 miles) north of Zagazig.

Though the city is one of the largest in Egypt, as well as being beautiful, clean, and really very friendly, it receives few tourists.

The city has an entirely European aspect, with modern buildings in Western style in addition to many mosques of little architectural interest. It is a market and processing center for the agricultural produce of the Delta, with several large cotton factories, and also has metalworking industries. The inhabitants are light-skinned and fair-haired (supposedly because Mansura's women are the most beautiful in Egypt and so were violated by crusaders who could not contain their lust!) and their city is regarded as the Queen of the Delta.

History

El-Mansura (the "Victorious") was founded by Sultan Malik el-Kamil in 1221 to replace Damietta, which had fallen to the Crusaders. In 1249 a Crusading army led by Louis IX of France succeeded, after hard fighting, in crossing the Ushmum Canal (now the Bahr el-Sughayyar) to El-Mansura, but were then surrounded and defeated by the young Sultan El-Moazzam Turanshah. Their fleet was destroyed, their supplies were cut off and finally, after great slaughter, Louis himself was taken prisoner in April 1250, and was released (on May 6, 1250) in return for a heavy ransom and the surrender of Damietta.

Sightseeing

Visitors are still shown a small house near the Mosque of El-Muwafiq which is said to be Louis IX's prison, and a spot near the point where the Bahr el-Sughayyar branches off the Nile is reputed to be the site of the Crusaders' camp.

Another interesting sight is the Shinnawi Palace. It was built by an Italian architect in 1928 and is considered the most magnificent of its style outside of Italy. For more luxury villas, head to the Touryel area.

For lively markets the Al-Khawagat market is the place to go. In earlier times it was run by Greeks, Jews and Lebanese, today's traders are Egyptian and their products include flashy-colored galabiyas, underwear, textiles, socks, shoes, brass and aluminum pots.

Some 6mi/10km southeast of El-Mansura, at the village of El-Baqliya, is Tell el-Naqus, on which are the scanty remains of Hermopolis Parva, the ancient Egyptian Bah, capital of the 15th nome of Lower Egypt in the Graeco-Roman Period.

In the same area as El-Baqliya, 6mi/10 km northeast of the modern town of El-Simbillawein, are two rubble mounds separated by the village of Tmeiel-Amdid and a canal, Tell el-Rub, the site of ancient Mendes, to the north and Tell el-Tmei, with the remains of ancient Thmuis two cities which were successively capital of the 16th nome of Lower Egypt in the Graeco-Roman period. The remains of a temple dating from the reign of Amasis and the massive sarcophagi of the sacred rams which were venerated here can still be seen.

Data:

• Latitude: 31.04
• Longitude: 31.38

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Last Update: 12/07/2006