Minya Governorate


Minya is one of the governorates of Upper Egypt. Its capital city, Minya, is located on the left bank of the Nile River.

Etymology

The name originates from the chief city of the governorate, originally known in Sahidic Coptic as Tmoone and in Bohairic as Thmonē, meaning “the residence”, in reference to a monastery formerly in the area. The name may also originate from the city's name in Egyptian Men'at Khufu.

Overview

The rate of poverty is more than 60% in this governorate, where the total population is nearly 6 million. Recently the government has provided some assistance via social safety networks, specifically, some financial assistance to residents with disabilities, and job opportunities for them and others. The funding has been coordinated by the country's Ministry of Finance and with assistance from international organizations.

Municipal divisions

The governorate is divided into municipal divisions with a total estimated population as of January 2024 of . In the case of Minya governorate, there are a number of aqsam and marakiz, and a new city. Sometimes a markaz and a kism share a name.
Anglicized nameNative nameArabic transliterationPopulation
Type
Abu Qirqas مركز ابو قرقاص 684,612 Markaz
El Idwa مركز العدوة 281,729 Markaz
Minya مركز المنيا 762,530 Markaz
Minya 1 قسم أول المنيا 56,487 Kism
Minya 2قسم ثان المنيا130,622 Kism
Minya 3قسم ثالث المنيا107,907 Kism
Beni Mazarمركز بنى مزار 639,122 Markaz
Deir Mawas مركز دير مواس 466,443 Markaz
New Minya قسم المنيا الجديدة 18,173 Kism
Maghagha مركز مغاغة 596,474 Markaz
Mallawi مركز ملوى839,418 Markaz
Mallawi قسم ملوى 221,185 Kism
Matai مركز مطاى 364,183 Markaz
Samalut East مركز سمالوط شرق 359,601 Markaz
Samalut West مركز سمالوط غرب 547,908 Markaz

Cities and towns

As of 2018, 10 cities in Minya had a population of over 15,000 inhabitants.
English nameNative nameArabic transliterationNov. 1996 CensusNov. 2006 CensusPopulation
Abu Qirqas أبو قرقاس50,03157,89278,134
El Idwaالعدوة13,55315,87522,583
Minyaالمنيا201,440236,043245,478
New Minyaالمنيا الجديدة684,56715,122
Beni Mazarبنى مزار52,69079,553100,201
Deir Mawas دير مواس33,19740,64052,658
Maghaghaمغاغة60,40575,657102,328
Mallawiملوى119,285139,929184,048
Mataiمطاى36,95346,90371,263
Samalutسمالوط75,43791,475122,919

Population

According to population estimates from 2024 the majority of residents in the governorate live in rural areas, with an urbanization rate of only 18.9%. Out of an estimated 6,453,892 people residing in the governorate, 5,234,106 people live in rural areas as opposed to only 1,219,786 in urban areas.

History

Little is known today about Minya Governorate compared to its great wealth of archaeological sites. Its history, including Ancient Egyptian, Hellenistic, Roman and Arab Egypt|Arab] periods, has not yet received the full attention of scholars.

Ancient Egyptian period

, Fraser Tombs, Sharuna, and Zawyet el-Maiyitin comprise monuments dating back to the Old Kingdom.
The village of Bani Hasan al Shurruq houses 390 rock-cut decorated tombs and chapels from the Middle Kingdom. The Speos Artemidos is nearby, and hosts temples built by Queen Hatshepsut.
Akhetaten was built by Pharaoh Akhenaten and dedicated to the god Aten. Akhenaten lived there in isolation with his wife, Nefertiti, and daughters, devoting himself to the monotheistic religion that he preached. The glorious remains of the palaces, temples and tombs still exist today.
Other significant archaeological sites in the governorate of Minya include Deir Abu Hinis, Deir el-Bersha, El-Sheikh Sa'id, and Tuna el-Gebel.

Greco-Roman period

was the capital of the region during this period. It was the main center of worship of the god Thoth. Today, the ruins of a Greek temple, similar to the Parthenon, can be still found.
The tomb and chapel of Petosiris are found near the modern village of Tuna el-Gebel.
Antinoöpolis was built in 130 A.D. by the Roman emperor Hadrian in memory of his favourite and eromenos Antinous.

Byzantine period

The Monastery of the [Virgin Mary at Gebel el-Teir] is an important Christian site near the city of Samalut. Its church was built by Empress Helena, mother of Constantine the Great, in 328, on one of the sites where the Holy Family is believed to have stayed during its Flight into Egypt.
Oxyrhynchus was an important administrative center during the Hellenistic Period, and remains an important archaeological source for papyri from the Byzantine Egypt.

Arab period

hosts the mosque of the famous Muslim Zayid ibn al Mugharah.

Modern history

Today, Minya Governorate has the highest concentration of Coptic Christians of 50% of the total population. There are also a number of active monasteries in the region.
In 2018, a Coptic cathedral was consecrated by Pope Tawadros II in the small village of Al Ur, near Samalut. The new cathedral was dedicated to the 21 Coptic Martyrs of Libya, thirteen of whom were from Al Ur.

Archaeology

In February 2019, fifty mummy collections wrapped in linen, stone coffins or wooden sarcophagi dated back to the Ptolemaic Kingdom were discovered by Egyptian archaeologists in the Tuna El-Gebel site. 12 of the graves in four burial chambers 9 m deep, belonged to children. One of the remains was the partly uncovered skull enclosed in linen.
In May 2020, Egyptian-Spanish archaeological mission headed by Esther Ponce revealed a unique cemetery consist of one room built with glazed limestone dating back to the 26th Dynasty at the site of ancient Oxyrhynchus. Archaeologists also uncovered bronze coins, clay seals, Roman tombstones and small crosses.

National holiday

The national holiday of the Minya governorate is on 18 March. It commemorates those who were executed by the British at Deir Mawas on 18 March 1919.

Industrial zones

According to the Governing Authority for Investment and Free Zones, the following industrial zones are located in Minya:
Zone name
El Metahra Industrial Zone
New Minya Industrial Zone
Wadi El Sararyah

Agriculture and industry

Minya Governorate is an important agricultural and industrial region. Among its principal crops are sugarcane, cotton, beans, soybeans, garlic, onions, vegetables of various sorts, tomatoes, potatoes, watermelons, and grapes. Among the leading local industries are food processing, spinning and weaving of cotton, perfumes, oils and fats, cement-making, quarrying, and brick-making.

Important sites