The Sawaqui (or waterwheels) were first introduced to El Fayoum by the Ptolemies (305-30 BC) to serve their planting plans in Egypt. They were used in the irrigation of fields and orchards in the city. Fayoum has a great number of water wheels, perhaps as many as 200. Sawaqui El Hadir (the Seven Waterwheels of El Hadeer) are still functioning in El-Fayoum by lifting up water to a level where it could be transported into the fields for irrigation. They had had their pivotal role in pushing the economical wheel of the city in particular and the whole country in general starting from the 3rd century BC.
