Tanta

Tanta طنطا
Nickname(s): El Badawy City
Tanta Location in Egypt
Coordinates: 30°47′N 31°0′E / 30.783°N 31.000°ECoordinates: 30°47′N 31°0′E / 30.783°N 31.000°E
Country	Egypt
Governorate	Gharbia
Elevation	12 m (39 ft)
Population (2006)
• Total	421,076
Time zone	EET (UTC+2)
Area code(s)	(+20) 40

Tanta (Egyptian Arabic: طنطا‎‎ Ṭanṭa  pronounced [ˈtˤɑntˤɑ], is a large city in Egypt. It is the country's fifth largest populated area, with 421,076 inhabitants as of 2006.^[1] Tanta is located between Cairo and Alexandria: 94 km (58 mi) north of Cairo and 130 km (81 mi) southeast of Alexandria. The capital of Gharbia Governorate,^[2] it is a center for the cotton-ginning industry.^[3] One of the major railway lines goes through Tanta.^[4][5] Three annual festivals are held in Tanta in honor of Ahmad al-Badawi, a revered Sufi figure of the 13th century, who founded the Badawiyya Tariqa in Egypt and is buried in the main mosque of Tanta. Tanta is known for its sweetshops and roasted chickpeas.^[6]

Overview

With its large cotton plantations, in 1856, Tanta became a stop on the railway network, primarily for the benefit of exporting its cotton to European markets.^[7] Even by 1986 the area around Tanta was mostly open fields with scattered villages but by 2001, Tanta had grown into a large, busy city.^[8] Tanta is known for its sweets, eaten during the mulid (Arabic: المولد‎‎) festivals. The people of Tanta are called Tantawy and enjoy leisurely walks along the streets.^[9][10]

Tanta has cotton ginning factories and textile industries,^[11] and is also a university town with Tanta University since 1972.^[12]

This city comes to life in late October at the end of the cotton harvest. Three million people,^[2] from around the Delta and other parts of the Arab world, come for the Moulid of Sayid Ahmed el-Badawi,^[11] which is a colorful,^[13] religious, eight-day celebration. The moulid is centered around the mosque and tomb of Sayid Ahmad al-Badawi.^[14] He founded one of Egypt's largest Sufi orders called Ahmadiyyah or Badawiyya.^[15] He was born in Morocco, but emigrated to Arabia and was sent to Tanta in 1234 as a representative of the order from Iraq. He was given permission to start a new order in Tanta and it soon flourished into "one of Egypt's largest Sufi brotherhoods".^[11] During the festival many sugar-coated nuts called 'hubb el 'Aziz' ('seeds of the Beloved Prophet') are eaten. They have been considered a delicacy since the 1800's.^[16]

Art and Culture

What originally began in Cairo, spread to Tanta when a group of young Egyptians began showing European movie screenings at Rivoli Cinema, the oldest cinema in Tanta. Called the 8th Edition Panorama of European Films, the young media students invited a film director to speak with the audience: people were enticed and the film screenings became a huge success. The group also began the The Association of Cinema and Literature Lovers Group to encourage young filmmakers in Tanta.^[17]

Organizations

There is a Young Men's Muslim Association (YMMA) in Tanta and in 1994 had about 1000 members.^[18]

Telecom Egypt, the main telephone landline Egyptian company, has one of its main centers in Tanta.^[19]

Sites

St. Mary Coptic Orthodox church, which is over 200 years old, is located in Tanta. Some people believe that the icon of the Virgin Mary has healing powers.^[20][21] The Museum of Tanta contains items from ancient nearby sites of Sais, Naucratis, and Buto, such as pottery and statues.^[22][23] El Mahallah is a large industrial town near Tanta, famous for its textile.^[11]

• 

  Tanta's city center, Algeish street

• 

  Tanta's railway station

• 

  Mosque of st. Ahmed El-Badawy

• 

  Ferial palace, currently Al-Azhar school for girls

Climate

As all of Egypt, has a hot desert climate (BWh), according to Köppen-Geiger climate classification system.

Climate data for Tanta, Egypt
Month	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec	Year
Record high °C (°F)	29.2 (84.6)	32 (90)	36.8 (98.2)	41.6 (106.9)	45.3 (113.5)	44.7 (112.5)	41.5 (106.7)	42.5 (108.5)	41.2 (106.2)	38.7 (101.7)	35.6 (96.1)	28.2 (82.8)	45.3 (113.5)
Average high °C (°F)	18.7 (65.7)	19.4 (66.9)	22.1 (71.8)	27.1 (80.8)	31 (88)	33.6 (92.5)	33.1 (91.6)	32.7 (90.9)	31.6 (88.9)	29.2 (84.6)	24.2 (75.6)	20.3 (68.5)	26.9 (80.4)
Daily mean °C (°F)	12 (54)	12.8 (55)	14.5 (58.1)	18.4 (65.1)	22.1 (71.8)	25.4 (77.7)	26 (79)	25.8 (78.4)	24.2 (75.6)	21.6 (70.9)	17.5 (63.5)	13.5 (56.3)	19.5 (67.1)
Average low °C (°F)	6.5 (43.7)	6.6 (43.9)	7.8 (46)	11.2 (52.2)	14.3 (57.7)	17.3 (63.1)	19.7 (67.5)	19.7 (67.5)	17.8 (64)	15.3 (59.5)	11.5 (52.7)	8 (46)	13.0 (55.4)
Record low °C (°F)	0.2 (32.4)	0.4 (32.7)	0.8 (33.4)	4.6 (40.3)	8.3 (46.9)	12 (54)	14.8 (58.6)	16.4 (61.5)	13.7 (56.7)	9.1 (48.4)	5 (41)	1.6 (34.9)	0.2 (32.4)
Average precipitation mm (inches)	13 (0.51)	8 (0.31)	7 (0.28)	3 (0.12)	2 (0.08)	0 (0)	0 (0)	0 (0)	0 (0)	2 (0.08)	4 (0.16)	12 (0.47)	51 (2.01)
Average precipitation days (≥ 1.0 mm)	1.7	0.9	0.9	0.5	0.2	0.0	0.0	0.0	0.0	0.3	0.6	1.5	6.6
Average relative humidity (%)	72	69	68	60	57	58	66	71	69	67	70	71	66.5
Mean monthly sunshine hours	205.6	198.8	256.7	280.3	325.1	357.9	332.6	342.8	280.5	278.0	229.7	205.3	3,293.3
Source #1: NOAA[24]
Source #2: Record Meteo for record temperatures (1961–1990)[25]

Notable people

• Kamal Amien (Arabic: كمال أمين‎‎‎) (1923–1979) Egyptian artist^[26]
• Khairy Beshara (Arabic: خيري بشارة‎‎ ) Film director^[27]
• Abdu Al-Hamouli (Arabic: عبده الحامولى‎‎‎) (1836–1901) Arab-Egyptian singer^[28]
• Mahmoud Khalil Al-Hussary (Arabic: محمود خليل الحصرى‎‎‎) (1917–1980) Renowned reciter of the Qur'an^[29]
• Mohamed Fawzi (Arabic: محمد فوزى‎‎‎), (1918–1966) Egyptian composer, singer, and actor^[30]
• Naima Akef (Arabic: نعيمة عاكف‎‎‎) (1939–1966) Egyptian belly-dancer and movie superstar^[31]
• Doria Shafiq (Arabic: درية شفيق‎‎‎) (1908–1975) a leader of the Women's Liberation Movement in the early 1950s^[32]
• Ahmed Ibrahim Hegazy (1936-2011) Known as "Hegazy", was a caricature artist^[33]
• Nasr Abu Zayd "Nasr Hamid Abu Zayd" (1943–2010) Egyptian Qur'anic thinker and a liberal theologian in Islam^[34]
• Ahmed Khaled Towfik (1962 - ) Egyptian author^[35]
• Amina Rizk (1910–2003) Egyptian actress^[36]
• El-Sayed Mohamed Nosseir, (1905-1977) Olympic Gold medal winner in weightlifting^[37]
• Muhammad Harby El-Gendy, Wushu Kong Fu world Champion and participated in the Kong Fu World Championship, USA, 1995 with the Egyptian National Team^[38]
• Maximos V Hakim, Melkite Greek Catholic Patriarch^[39]
• Nabil Farouk, Novelist best known for his books on the Rewayāt Masreyya Lel Gēb (Egyptian Pocket Novels) series, which influenced Egyptian youth during 80's and 90's.^[40][41]
• Bishop Paula, Head of the Coptic Orthodox Council for Marital Affairs.^[42]

See also

• Nile Delta
• Egyptian festivals

References

1. World Gazetteer. "Statistical information on Tanta, Egypt". Archived from the original on 8 December 2012. Retrieved 2016-11-14.
2. Raafat, Shaimaa (October 21, 2014). "Tanta receives 3 million visitors participating in Moulid Al-Sayed Al-Badawy festival". Daily News Egypt. Retrieved 17 November 2016.
3. Chaichian, Mohammad A. (2009). Town and Country in the Middle East: Iran and Egypt in the Transition to Globalization, 1800-1970. Lexington Books. ISBN 9780739126776. Retrieved 17 November 2016.
4. Ayyad, Mohamed (July 27, 2015). "Siemens, Egyptian Railway sign MoU to develop major lines' sign lighting". Daily News Egypt. Retrieved 17 November 2016.
5. Seif, Ola R (October 12, 2015). "Train of thoughts". ahram online. Retrieved 17 November 2016.
6. Dan, Richardson; Jacobs, Daniel (February 1, 2013). The Rough Guide to Egypt. Penguin. ISBN 9781409324263. Retrieved 17 November 2016.
7. Chaichian, Mohammad A. (2009). Town and Country in the Middle East: Iran and Egypt in the Transition to Globalization, 1800-1970. Lexington Books. p. 131. ISBN 9780739126776. Retrieved 18 November 2016.
8. Huston, Perdita (2001). Families as We are: Conversations from Around the World. Feminist Press at CUNY. ISBN 9781558612501. Retrieved 17 November 2016.
9. Marcus, Antoine. "A Glimpse of Tanta, Egypt's "Boss Town"". Egyptian Streets. Retrieved 17 November 2016.
10. Elsamadouny, Zeyad. "Night Ride in Tanta". Youtube. Retrieved 17 November 2016.
11. Richadson, Dan; Jacobs, Daniel (Aug 2, 2010). The Rough Guide to Egypt. Penguin. ISBN 9781405387736.
12. "Tanta University History". Tanta University. Retrieved 16 November 2016.
13. Denny, Frederick (September 21, 2015). Introduction to Islam. Routledge. p. 245. ISBN 9781317347279. Retrieved 16 November 2016.
14. Brockman, Norbert. Encyclopedia of Sacred Places, Volume 1. p. 321. ISBN 9781598846546. Retrieved 15 November 2016.
15. el-Aswad, El-Sayed (July 13, 2012). Muslim Worldviews and Everyday Lives. Rowman Altamira. p. 77. ISBN 9780759121195. Retrieved 16 November 2016.
16. Karl, Baedeker (1885). Egypt: Handbook for Travellers : Part First, Lower Egypt, with the Fayum and the Peninsula of Sinai. Harvard: Karl Baedeker. Retrieved 16 November 2016.
17. Nasr, Nahed (October 30, 2016). "ARCHIVES: 8th Panorama out of Cairo: A dream in fulfilment". ahram online. Retrieved 16 November 2016.
18. Sullivan, Denis Joseph (1994). Private Voluntary Organizations in Egypt: Islamic Development, Private Initiative, and State Control. University Press of Florida. p. 73. ISBN 9780813012902.
19. CIA, United States. The CIA World Factbook 2010, Book 2010. Skyhorse Publishing Inc. ISBN 9781602397279. Retrieved 16 November 2016.
20. "Christianity in Ebiar Village Tanta". A Sense of Belonging. Retrieved 17 November 2016.
21. "St. Mary Coptic Orthodox Church Tanta". St. Mary Coptic Orthodox Church Tanta. Retrieved 17 November 2016.
22. "SCA Tanta Museum". Supreme Council of Antiquities. Retrieved 17 November 2016.
23. Hudson, Kenneth; Nicholls, Ann (Jun 18, 1985). The Directory of Museums & Living Displays. Springer. p. 208. ISBN 9781349070145. Retrieved 17 November 2016.
24. "Tanta Climate Normals 1961–1990". National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Retrieved January 25, 2015.
25. "Tanta, Egypt weather Station Record Meteo". Record Meteo. Retrieved 4 July 2013.
26. "Kamal Amien Bio". Fine Art Gov Egypt. Retrieved 17 November 2016.
27. "Khairy Beshara Biography". IMDB. Retrieved 14 November 2016.
28. "'Abduh al-Ḥāmūlī". Foundation for Arab Music Archiving & Research. Retrieved 14 November 2016.
29. "Mahmoud Khalil Al Hussary". Assabile. Retrieved 17 November 2016.
30. "Mohamed Fawzy (1918 - 1966) محمد فوزي". El Cinema. Retrieved 15 November 2016.
31. "Naima Akef". IMDB. Retrieved 14 November 2016.
32. Smith, Bonnie G. (2008). The Oxford Encyclopedia of Women in World History: 4 Volume Set. Oxford University Press, USA. p. 27. ISBN 9780195148909.
33. Mahmoud, Sayed (October 24, 2011). "Hegazy, Master of Egyptian cartoons". ahram online. Retrieved 15 November 2016.
34. "Professor Nasr Hamid Abu Zayd". Philosophers of the Arabs. Retrieved 17 November 2016.
35. Yaqoob, Tahira (March 16, 2012). "Ahmed Khaled Towfik, Egypt's doctor of escapism". Retrieved 17 November 2016.
36. "Amina Rizk". IMDB. Retrieved 16 November 2016.
37. "Sayed Nossier". SR / Olympic Sports.
38. "Muhammad Harby El-Gendy in Wushu world championship in 1995, the US". Youtube.
39. "Patriarch Maximos V (George) Hakim †". Catholic Hierarchy. Retrieved 17 November 2016.
40. "Dr. Nabil Farouk Biography". Rewayat Club. Retrieved 15 November 2016.
41. Almazroui, Ayesha (March 8, 2015). "If we want to keep Arabic alive, don't blame English". The National. Retrieved 15 November 2016.
42. "Bishop Paula of Tanta and Synod Member speaks to Al-Hayat TV Channel on Egyptian Copts, relations with Al-Sisi and patriotism". Middle East Monitor. June 11, 2014. Retrieved 17 November 2016.

External links

• Egypt: Handbook for Travellers : Part First, Lower Egypt, with the Fayum and the Peninsula of Sinai by Karl Baedeker (1885)
• Families as We are: Conversations from Around the World by By Perdita Huston, 2001
• The Encyclopaedia Britannica: a dictionary of arts, sciences, literature and general information by Hugh Chisholm, 1910