Girga (Egyptian Arabic: جرجا [ˈɡeɾɡæ]), alternatively Digirga or Digurga is a city in the Sohag Governorate of Upper Egypt located on the west bank of the Nile. It is the metropolitan see of the Coptic Orthodox Church, and is the oldest continuously-inhabited city on the African continent.
Girga ⲑⲁⲣϫⲉ جرجا | |
|---|---|
City | |
   Uthman Bey Mosque Entrance (top) - Suq Market (left) - Mitwalli Mosque Entrance (right) | |
  Girga Location in Egypt | |
| Coordinates: 26°20′N 31°54′E / 26.333°N 31.900°E | |
| Country |  Egypt |
| Governorate | Sohag |
| Area | |
• Total | 5.42 sq mi (14.05 km2) |
| Elevation | 230 ft (70 m) |
| Population (2021) | |
• Total | 162,165 |
| • Density | 30,000/sq mi (12,000/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC+2 (EST) |
Name
| |||
| grg in hieroglyphs | |||
|---|---|---|---|
The name of the city comes from Ancient Egyptian: (tꜣ)-grg.t, lit. 'the settlement', which is also preserved in possibly corrupted Coptic: ⲑⲁⲣϫⲉ, romanized: tarje and its alternative name Digirga.
Some Egyptologists such as Brugsch believe that the name of the city derives from the ancient Egyptian word grg miri-amoun Ramessou which means "The establishment of Ramesses II", although Daressy and Budge identify the name with Coptic Balyana near Abydos.
Through folk etymology the city became associated with St. George and a now non-existent monastery dedicated to him nearby, hence Leo Africanus calls it Giorgia and Peust suggests an older vocalisation Gurga.
Overview
Girga was the capital of the Girga Governorate until 1960, when the capital was moved to Sohag and the name of the governorate changed accordingly. Girga has an estimated population of 71,564 (as of 1986) and has various economic industries which include cane sugar manufacturing and pottery.
History
The city might have been the location of ancient city of Thinis (Greek name; also spelled This) – the first capital city of unified Egypt under Narmer. As of 2023, it remains inconclusive whether Girga or nearby village of Birba is the site of Thinis (Birba was confirmed to be the site of the capital of Egypt during the 1st and 2nd dynasties[citation needed]).
There are ancient sites located on the territory of Girga including Beit Khallaf, a necropolis with mudbrick tombs dating back to the 3rd dynasty.
Girga was the capital of Upper Egypt during Ottoman rule.
In 1791, Saint Yousab El Abah (also Joseph el-Abbah) was the bishop of the city.
In 1907 Girga had a population of 19,893, of whom about one-third were Copts.
As lately as the middle of the 18th century the town stood about 0.4 km from the river, but in the beginning of the 20th century it stood on the bank, the intervening space having been washed away, together with a large part of the town, by the stream continually encroaching on its left bank.
Places of worship
Mosques
- Chinese Mosque (Arabic: المسجد الصينى, romanized: almasjid assini): The mosque was presumably built in about 1150 AH (= 1737) in the historical district of al-Qaysariyya by Muhammad bey al-Faqari who became a governor in 1117 AH (= 1705/1706) in Ottoman times. Although it is called Chinese, no materials imported from China were used in its construction, and it got its name after porcelain used in its decoration.
- Osman Bey Mosque (Arabic: مسجد عثمان بك)
- Al-Fuqara Mosque (Arabic: مسجد الفقراء)
- Jalal Bey Mosque (Arabic: مسجد جلال بك)
- Al-Mitwalli Mosque (Arabic: جامع المتولي)
Churches and monasteries
- Monastery of Archangel Michael (Arabic: دير الملاك ميخائيل, romanized: dayr al-malak mikhail): Situated on the right bank of the Nile opposite of Girga. Since 1910 this site has been celebrated among archaeologists, because the discoveries made there have shed light on the region's prehistory.
- Church of Archangel Michael (Arabic: كنيسة الملاك ميخائيل, romanized: kenisa al-malak mikhail)
- Church of Saint George (Arabic: كنيسة مارجرجس, romanized: kenisa mar jirjis)
- Church of Theodore Tiron (Arabic: كنيسة الأمير تادرس, romanized: kenisa alamir tadrus)
Climate
Köppen-Geiger climate classification system classifies its climate as hot desert (BWh).
| Climate data for Girga | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Mean daily maximum °C (°F) | 22.3 (72.1) | 24.3 (75.7) | 28.1 (82.6) | 33.5 (92.3) | 36.9 (98.4) | 38.3 (100.9) | 37.9 (100.2) | 38.1 (100.6) | 34.9 (94.8) | 32.4 (90.3) | 28.8 (83.8) | 23.8 (74.8) | 31.6 (88.9) |
| Daily mean °C (°F) | 13.7 (56.7) | 15.3 (59.5) | 18.7 (65.7) | 23.9 (75.0) | 27.8 (82.0) | 29.5 (85.1) | 29.5 (85.1) | 29.9 (85.8) | 27.7 (81.9) | 25.1 (77.2) | 20.4 (68.7) | 15.5 (59.9) | 23.1 (73.6) |
| Mean daily minimum °C (°F) | 5.1 (41.2) | 6.1 (43.0) | 9.4 (48.9) | 14.3 (57.7) | 18.7 (65.7) | 20.8 (69.4) | 21.2 (70.2) | 21.8 (71.2) | 20.5 (68.9) | 17.9 (64.2) | 12.2 (54.0) | 7.3 (45.1) | 14.6 (58.3) |
| Average precipitation mm (inches) | 0 (0) | 0 (0) | 0 (0) | 0 (0) | 0 (0) | 0 (0) | 0 (0) | 0 (0) | 0 (0) | 0 (0) | 0 (0) | 1 (0.0) | 1 (0) |
| Source: Climate-Data.org | |||||||||||||
See also
- Thinis
- List of cities in Egypt
References
- "Jirjā (Kism (urban and rural parts), Egypt) - Population Statistics, Charts, Map and Location". citypopulation.de. Retrieved 16 June 2023.
- Peust, Carsten. "Die Toponyme vorarabischen Ursprungs im modernen Ägypten" (PDF). p. 43.
- Wallis Budge, E. A. (1920). An Egyptian hieroglyphic dictionary: with an index of English words, king list and geological list with indexes, list of hieroglyphic characters, coptic and semitic alphabets, etc. Vol II. John Murray. p. 1049.
- Gauthier, Henri (1928). Dictionnaire des Noms Géographiques Contenus dans les Textes Hiéroglyphiques Dictionnaire des Noms Géographiques Contenus dans les Textes Hiéroglyphiques Dictionnaire des Noms Géographiques Contenus dans les Textes Hiéroglyphiques Vol. 5. pp. 217, 218.
- Brugsch, Heinrich (1879). Dictionnaire géographique de l'ancienne Egypte: contenant par ordre alphabétique la nomenclature comparée des noms propres géographiques qui se rencontrent sur les monuments et dans les papyrus. J. C. Hinrichs. pp. 853–854.
- Law, Gwillim (1999). Administrative Subdivisions of Countries: A Comprehensive World Reference, 1900 through 1998 (snippet view). Jefferson, NC: McFarland. p. 114. ISBN 978-0-7864-0729-3. Retrieved 2010-08-07.
- One or more of the preceding sentences incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain: Chisholm, Hugh, ed. (1911). "Girga". Encyclopædia Britannica. Vol. 12 (11th ed.). Cambridge University Press. p. 48.
- "Claremont Coptic Encyclopedia".
- "Climate: Girga - Climate graph, Temperature graph, Climate table". Climate-Data.org. Retrieved 14 August 2013.
External links
- (in German) Girga on Wikivoyage
- Usepigraphy Stele Marble Relief - Brown University
Girga Egyptian Arabic جرجا ˈɡeɾɡae alternatively Digirga or Digurga is a city in the Sohag Governorate of Upper Egypt located on the west bank of the Nile It is the metropolitan see of the Coptic Orthodox Church and is the oldest continuously inhabited city on the African continent Girga ⲑⲁⲣϫⲉجرجاCityUthman Bey Mosque Entrance top Suq Market left Mitwalli Mosque Entrance right GirgaLocation in EgyptCoordinates 26 20 N 31 54 E 26 333 N 31 900 E 26 333 31 900Country EgyptGovernorateSohagArea Total5 42 sq mi 14 05 km2 Elevation230 ft 70 m Population 2021 Total162 165 Density30 000 sq mi 12 000 km2 Time zoneUTC 2 EST Namegrg in hieroglyphs The name of the city comes from Ancient Egyptian tꜣ grg t lit the settlement which is also preserved in possibly corrupted Coptic ⲑⲁⲣϫⲉ romanized tarje and its alternative name Digirga Some Egyptologists such as Brugsch believe that the name of the city derives from the ancient Egyptian word grg miri amoun Ramessou which means The establishment of Ramesses II although Daressy and Budge identify the name with Coptic Balyana near Abydos Through folk etymology the city became associated with St George and a now non existent monastery dedicated to him nearby hence Leo Africanus calls it Giorgia and Peust suggests an older vocalisation Gurga OverviewGirga was the capital of the Girga Governorate until 1960 when the capital was moved to Sohag and the name of the governorate changed accordingly Girga has an estimated population of 71 564 as of 1986 and has various economic industries which include cane sugar manufacturing and pottery HistoryGirga in 1890 The city might have been the location of ancient city of Thinis Greek name also spelled This the first capital city of unified Egypt under Narmer As of 2023 it remains inconclusive whether Girga or nearby village of Birba is the site of Thinis Birba was confirmed to be the site of the capital of Egypt during the 1st and 2nd dynasties citation needed There are ancient sites located on the territory of Girga including Beit Khallaf a necropolis with mudbrick tombs dating back to the 3rd dynasty Girga was the capital of Upper Egypt during Ottoman rule In 1791 Saint Yousab El Abah also Joseph el Abbah was the bishop of the city In 1907 Girga had a population of 19 893 of whom about one third were Copts As lately as the middle of the 18th century the town stood about 0 4 km from the river but in the beginning of the 20th century it stood on the bank the intervening space having been washed away together with a large part of the town by the stream continually encroaching on its left bank Places of worshipMosques Chinese MosqueChinese Mosque Arabic المسجد الصينى romanized almasjid assini The mosque was presumably built in about 1150 AH 1737 in the historical district of al Qaysariyya by Muhammad bey al Faqari who became a governor in 1117 AH 1705 1706 in Ottoman times Although it is called Chinese no materials imported from China were used in its construction and it got its name after porcelain used in its decoration Osman Bey Mosque Arabic مسجد عثمان بك Al Fuqara Mosque Arabic مسجد الفقراء Jalal Bey Mosque Arabic مسجد جلال بك Al Mitwalli Mosque Arabic جامع المتولي Churches and monasteries Monastery of Archangel Michael Arabic دير الملاك ميخائيل romanized dayr al malak mikhail Situated on the right bank of the Nile opposite of Girga Since 1910 this site has been celebrated among archaeologists because the discoveries made there have shed light on the region s prehistory Church of Archangel Michael Arabic كنيسة الملاك ميخائيل romanized kenisa al malak mikhail Church of Saint George Arabic كنيسة مارجرجس romanized kenisa mar jirjis Church of Theodore Tiron Arabic كنيسة الأمير تادرس romanized kenisa alamir tadrus ClimateKoppen Geiger climate classification system classifies its climate as hot desert BWh Climate data for GirgaMonth Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec YearMean daily maximum C F 22 3 72 1 24 3 75 7 28 1 82 6 33 5 92 3 36 9 98 4 38 3 100 9 37 9 100 2 38 1 100 6 34 9 94 8 32 4 90 3 28 8 83 8 23 8 74 8 31 6 88 9 Daily mean C F 13 7 56 7 15 3 59 5 18 7 65 7 23 9 75 0 27 8 82 0 29 5 85 1 29 5 85 1 29 9 85 8 27 7 81 9 25 1 77 2 20 4 68 7 15 5 59 9 23 1 73 6 Mean daily minimum C F 5 1 41 2 6 1 43 0 9 4 48 9 14 3 57 7 18 7 65 7 20 8 69 4 21 2 70 2 21 8 71 2 20 5 68 9 17 9 64 2 12 2 54 0 7 3 45 1 14 6 58 3 Average precipitation mm inches 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 1 0 Source Climate Data orgSee alsoEgypt portalThinis List of cities in EgyptReferences Jirja Kism urban and rural parts Egypt Population Statistics Charts Map and Location citypopulation de Retrieved 16 June 2023 Peust Carsten Die Toponyme vorarabischen Ursprungs im modernen Agypten PDF p 43 Wallis Budge E A 1920 An Egyptian hieroglyphic dictionary with an index of English words king list and geological list with indexes list of hieroglyphic characters coptic and semitic alphabets etc Vol II John Murray p 1049 Gauthier Henri 1928 Dictionnaire des Noms Geographiques Contenus dans les Textes Hieroglyphiques Dictionnaire des Noms Geographiques Contenus dans les Textes Hieroglyphiques Dictionnaire des Noms Geographiques Contenus dans les Textes Hieroglyphiques Vol 5 pp 217 218 Brugsch Heinrich 1879 Dictionnaire geographique de l ancienne Egypte contenant par ordre alphabetique la nomenclature comparee des noms propres geographiques qui se rencontrent sur les monuments et dans les papyrus J C Hinrichs pp 853 854 Law Gwillim 1999 Administrative Subdivisions of Countries A Comprehensive World Reference 1900 through 1998 snippet view Jefferson NC McFarland p 114 ISBN 978 0 7864 0729 3 Retrieved 2010 08 07 One or more of the preceding sentences incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain Chisholm Hugh ed 1911 Girga Encyclopaedia Britannica Vol 12 11th ed Cambridge University Press p 48 Claremont Coptic Encyclopedia Climate Girga Climate graph Temperature graph Climate table Climate Data org Retrieved 14 August 2013 External linksWikimedia Commons has media related to Girga in German Girga on Wikivoyage Usepigraphy Stele Marble Relief Brown University
