Terenuthis

Terenuthis was a town in Ancient Egypt. Located roughly on the spot of the modern town of Tarrana, approximately 70 km north of Cairo in the western delta, it was named after the ancient Egyptian god Renenutet. Renenutet is one of the most ancient gods in the Egyptian pantheon, and in later worship was merged with other Egyptian gods like Wadjet. Renenutet was possibly a local protecting deity in pre-dynastic times, as Terenuthis is the oldest known center of her cult.

Tarrana in the Province of Beherah replaces Terenuthis, now known as Kom Abu Billo,^[1] the ruins of which lie about a mile and a quarter to the west. About nine miles away are Lake Nitria and Lake Scetis, near which were the lavras of these names, Nitria and Scetis.

After Egypt became a Roman possession, Terenuthis was incorporated into the Roman province of Aegyptus Prima.

There are archaeological remains dating at least from the Middle Kingdom. There is a necropolis. From the Ptolemaic period dates a (now mostly destroyed) temple dedicated to Hathor-Thermutis originally built by Ptolemaeus I and II.

Christianity

Terenuthis became a bishopric that, being in the province of Aegyptus Prima was a suffragan of Alexandria and is included in the Catholic Church's list of titular sees.^[2] Le Quien^[3] mentions two of its bishops: Arsinthius in 404; Eulogius at the First Council of Ephesus in 431.

The monks sometimes sought refuge in Terenuthis during incursions of the Maziks.^[4] John Moschus went there at the beginning of the 7th century.^[5] There is frequent mention of Terenuthis in Christian Coptic literature.

Notes

1. http://www.egyptsites.co.uk/lower/delta/western/abubillo.html
2. Annuario Pontificio 2013 (Libreria Editrice Vaticana, 2013, ISBN 978-88-209-9070-1), p. 987
3. Oriens christianus, II, 611.
4. Cotelier, "Ecclesiæ græcæ monumenta", I, 393.
5. Pratum spirituale, LIV, CXIV.

References

Attribution

•  This article incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain: Herbermann, Charles, ed. (1913). "Terenuthis". Catholic Encyclopedia. New York: Robert Appleton. The entry cites:
  • Georgii Cyprii Descriptio orb. rom., ed. Heinrich Gelzer, 125;
  • AMÉLINEAU, La géog. de l'Egypte a l'époque Copte (Paris, 1893), 493.

Coordinates: 30°26′00″N 30°49′00″E / 30.4333°N 30.8167°E