The name of the city is derived from early Egyptian Zawty (Z3JW.TJ) (late Egyptian, Səyáwt) adopted into the Coptic as Syowt^[2] ⲥⲓⲟⲟⲩⲧ [sɪˈjowt], which means "Guardian" of the northern approach of Upper Egypt.^[3] In Graeco-Roman Egypt, it was called Lycopolis or Lykopolis (Greek: Λυκόπολις, "ἡ Λύκων πόλις"),^[4] ('wolf city') Lycon,^[5] or Lyco.^[6][7]