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Memphis (Egypt)

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Memphis (Egypt), capital of ancient Egypt, located 22 km (14 mi) south of the modern city of Cairo. The site of Memphis, at the head of the Nile delta, made it the key to Egypt and gave its inhabitants control over the river valley and delta as well as over the water route through upper and lower Egypt.

Some scholars believe the city may have been founded in the early 4th millennium bc, but that date is not certain. According to legend, Memphis was founded by King Áha, the first king of Egypt’s first dynasty. It became his royal residence, and he supposedly rechanneled the Nile to make room for his city. Near Memphis is Şaqqārah, a vast burial site for the rulers of ancient Egypt. The famous pyramids of Giza and other monuments—including the Sphinx—are also nearby.

During its early history Egypt’s capital acquired the name Men-nefer, meaning “the good place.” The ancient Greeks turned this into Memphis, the name by which we know it. The god of the city was Ptah, and Memphis was the main place for the worship of Ptah. According to some sources the city’s sacred name of Hikuptah (“house of the ka, or soul, of Ptah”), was rendered by the Greeks as “Aiguptos” and thus gave us the name Egypt.

Memphis remained the capital of Egypt throughout the Old Kingdom, which lasted until about 2100 bc. Many historians believe Memphis served as the administrative center for the government during most of Egypt’s history under the pharaohs. Along with the city of Thebes, it was a major political, commercial, and cultural center. Although Thebes became the capital of ancient Egypt for a time, Memphis never lost its importance as an administrative and religious center.



Under the reign of the Ptolemaic dynasty (305 to 30 bc), Memphis was the most important city in the region after Alexandria. It continued to be a major population center until its conquest by the Roman Empire. This conquest was not completed until the death of the Egyptian queen Cleopatra in 30 bc.

The decline of Memphis accelerated in the 7th century ad when Arab conquerors built the nearby city of Al Fustat (now Cairo). Today little remains of ancient Memphis. Most of the ruins are covered by thick deposits of sediment from the Nile, and some ruins are even buried below the water table. Archaeologists have uncovered temples to Ptah, Isis, Serapis, and Ra; two statues of Ramses II; and many dwellings.

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