Asyut

Commercial centre in southern Egypt, near the west bank of the Nile, 322 km/200 mi south of Cairo; population (1992) 321,000. It is the capital of the governorate (area 1,600 sq km/618 sq mi; population (1996) 2,802,185) of the same name. One of the Nile dams is located here. An ancient Graeco-Egyptian city, it has many rock tombs of 11th and 12th-dynasty nobles.

Asyut was formerly noted for handicrafts (pottery, inlaid wood, ivory carvings, leather and woven goods, and tulle shawls). It has a university and has been a centre of Islamic opposition to the Egyptian government.