Asyut is one of the governorates of Egypt. It is in the south of the country, and covers a stretch of the Nile. Its capital is Asyut. The city of Asyut is a city of approximately 1.5 million people. It is home to the University of Assiut, one of the largest universities in Egypt outside of Cairo. Asyut is also the location of the Lillian Thrasher Orphanage.

In the hellenic era of Ancient Egypt, Asyut was known as Lycopolis, meaning city of wolves, as it was the principal seat of worship of the god Wepwawet. To the Ancient Egyptians, it was known as Saut, capital of the Atef-Khent nome.