From swamps to fertile land
Before the 12th dynasty the Fayum basin contained vast areas of wilderness and marshes. Much of it could with time be used for cultivation through gigantic ditching and dam building projects. Shedet (Greek: Krokodilpolis) became its cultural and religious centre venerating the crocodile Sobek. Two kings built their pyramids by the strategic narrow water passage to the Nile Valley.
