The town has several weaving mills and a pleasant bazaar
Akhmim is an important site for Coptic Christians. It is built on the site of ancient Khemmi or Panopolis, and was once the capital of an important district. The ancient Egyptians called it Epu or – after their city god, the ithyphallic god of harvest Min – Khente-Min. This developed into the Coptic name “Shmin”, which later became the Arabic “Akhmim”. Herodotus praised the citizens of Khemmis as the only Egyptians who observed Greek manners and served Perseus – for whom they erected a temple – with Hellenistic customs. The city also flourished under Roman rule. Its temple was enlarged in the twelve years of Emperor Trajan’s reign (AD 109). In Christian times, there were many monasteries in the area around Panopolis.
