Pithom
    Egyptian, Pa-Tum, "house of Tum," the sun-god, one of the
    "treasure" cities built for Pharaoh Rameses II. by the
    Israelites (Ex. 1:11). It was probably the Patumos of the Greek
    historian Herodotus. It has now been satisfactorily identified
    with Tell-el-Maskhuta, about 12 miles west of Ismailia, and 20
    east of Tel-el-Kebir, on the southern bank of the present Suez
    Canal. Here have recently (1883) been discovered the ruins of
    supposed grain-chambers, and other evidences to show that this
    was a great "store city." Its immense ruin-heaps show that it
    was built of bricks, and partly also of bricks without straw.
    Succoth (Ex. 12:37) is supposed by some to be the secular name
    of this city, Pithom being its sacred name. This was the first
    halting-place of the Israelites in their exodus. It has been
    argued (Dr. Lansing) that these "store" cities "were residence
    cities, royal dwellings, such as the Pharaohs of old, the Kings
    of Israel, and our modern Khedives have ever loved to build,
    thus giving employment to the superabundant muscle of their
    enslaved peoples, and making a name for themselves."



 Pithom, their mouthful; a dilatation of the mouth