Suhaj

Sohag (Arabic: سوهاج [soˈhæːɡ], .mw-parser-output .IPA-label-small{font-size:85%}.mw-parser-output .references .IPA-label-small,.mw-parser-output .infobox .IPA-label-small,.mw-parser-output .navbox .IPA-label-small{font-size:100%}Sa'idi Arabic pronunciation: [suːˈhaːdʒ] Sūhāǧ), also spelled as Sawhāj, Suhag and Suhaj,[4] 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).[5] The modern city developed from the village of Suhay (Arabic: السوهاى) (or Sumay), the name of which eventually transformed into Suhaj,[6] and is located on the site of several ancient settlements, the largest of which is Bompae (Ancient Greek: Βομπαη; Coptic: ⲃⲟⲙⲡⲁϩⲟ, lit. 'channel of Paho' or Coptic: ⲡⲓⲃⲟⲙⲡⲁϩⲉ, lit. 'the place of Paha').[7][8] The others include Tmupaie (Ancient Greek: Τμουπαει, Coptic: ⲧⲙⲟⲩⲡⲁϩⲟ, lit. 'the island of Paha'), Bay (Arabic: الباى, possibly an Arabisation of the aforementioned "Paha") and Sawaqi (Arabic: سواقى). Sohag lies on a fertile agricultural plain on the western bank of the Nile,[9] approximately 6 kilometres (3.7 miles) 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.