Sohag

Sohag, also spelled as Sawhāj, Suhag and Suhaj, is a city on the west bank of the Nile in Egypt. It has been the capital of Sohag Governorate since 1960, before which the capital was Girga and the name of the governorate was Girga Governorate. It also included Esna Governorate (nowadays Qena Governorate). History The modern city developed from the village of Suhay (or Sumay), the name of which eventually transformed into Suhaj, and is located on the site of several ancient settlements, the largest of which is Bompae (; or ). The others include Tmupaie, Bay (, possibly an Arabisation of the aforementioned "Paha") and Sawaqi. Geography Sohag lies on a fertile agricultural plain on the western bank of the Nile, approximately southwest of Akhmim. The city includes two islands; Karaman-ez-Zahur Island is larger and uninhabited, and ez-Zahur Island (جزيرة الزهور, Ǧazīrat az-Zuhur, "Flower Island") has some homes.