Known most popularly in the modern era and to scholarship by its traditional Greek name Leontopolis Λεόντων πόλις[1] (literally, "city of lions"), or Leonto Λεοντώ, ("lion"),[2] the demographic makeup of the city varied culturally and linguistically over its long history, and the Greek name was progressively used more and more over the native Egyptian Taremu ("Land of Fish").

In his conquest-stela found at the fourth Nile Cataract at Jebel Barkal, Piye writes about his conquest over Iuput II, who ruled over Leontopolis.

[5] Strabo is the earliest writer who mentions either the nome,[6] or its chief town: and it was probably of comparatively recent origin or importance.

archiepiscopal) rank : Most scholars today agree that Leontopolis is located at Tell al Muqdam, at latitude 30° 45′ North.

[11] Jomard (1777–1862), on the other hand, maintained that some tumuli[dubious – discuss] near the village of El-Mengaleh in the Delta, represent the ancient Leontopolis, and this supposition agrees better with the account of the town given by Xenophon of Ephesus.