Pithom

First trace of activity : ca. 20th century B.C.E
Last trace of activity : ca. 5th century B.C.E
Recorded names : Per-Atum, Tjeku, Heroöpolis, Heroonopolis, Ἡρώων πόλις, Ἡρώ, פיתום, *Pi-ʔAtōm, *Par-ʔAtāma, Πάτουµος, Tell er-Retabeh

Description : Pithom (Hebrew: פיתום‎) also called Per-Atum or Heroöpolis or Heroonopolis (Greek: Ἡρώων πόλις or Ἡρώ) was an ancient city of Egypt. Multiple references in ancient Greek, Roman, and Hebrew Bible sources exist for this city, but its exact location remains somewhat uncertain. A number of scholars identified it as the later archaeological site of Tell El Maskhuta. Others identified it as the earlier archeological site of Tell El Retabeh. The 10th century Jewish scholar, Saadia Gaon, identified the place in his Judeo-Arabic translation of the Pentateuch as Faiyum, 100 kilometres (62 miles) southwest of Cairo.

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