Qeft, or 'Gebtu' or 'Coptos' in Ancient Egypt, is a small town in Qena Governorate. It lies at the mouth of the Wadi Hammamat, one of the principal routes to the Red Sea and to the mines and quarries.
In ancient times, Gebtu was an important administrative, religious and trade center. The local god of the city was Min, the god of fertility, identified later with Amoun.
Being the base camp of Legio III Cyrenaica or at least one of its subunits, Coptos recuperated its prominence under the Antonines, under the Roman rule. Although rebels broke out in the town, it was soon captured in 292 by Diocletian after a long siege. Almost destroyed, however, it soon recovered its former standing.
Under the Muslim caliphs and sultans, Qeft remained one of the important cities of Upper Egypt. In 1176, ...
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