- Thebaid
The Thebaid or Thebais ( _el. Θηβαΐς or Θηβαΐδα) is the region of
ancient Egypt containing the thirteen southernmost nomes ofUpper Egypt , from Abydos toAswan . It acquired its name from its proximity to the ancient Egyptian capital of Thebes.In Ptolemaic Egypt, the Thebaid formed a single administrative district under the "Epistrategos" of Thebes, who was also responsible for overseeing navigation in the
Red Sea and theIndian Ocean .During the
Roman Empire ,Diocletian created the province of "Thebais", guarded by the legions I "Maximiana Thebanorum" and II "Flavia Constantia". This was later divided in Upper (Thebais Superior, Άνω Θηβαΐς), comprising the southern half with its capital at Thebes, and Lower or Nearer (Thebais Inferior, Θηβαΐς Ἐγγίστη), comprising the northern half with capital at Ptolemais.Around the 5th century, since it was a
desert , the Thebaid became a place of retreat of a number ofChristian hermit s. [web cite|url=http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/14561a.htm|title=Thebaid|work=Catholic Encyclopedia ] InChristian art , the Thebaid was represented as a place with numerous monks.References
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