Leontopolis is the Greek name for the Ancient Egyptian city known as Taremu in ancient times and as Tell al Muqdam today.
The city is located in the central part of the Nile Delta region. It was the capital of the 11th nome and was probably the centre of pharaonic power under the 23rd dynasty .
The Greek name means "City of Lions", given on account of the presence here of a temple to the
lion god Maahes. Sekhmet and Bastet were also both worshipped locally.
During the reign of Ptolemy VI Philometor, a Jewish temple was built in Leontopolis. It was closed two centuries later under orders from Vespasian.
