Memphis, Egypt

Lore & Background

According to legends related in the early third century BC by Manetho, a priest and historian who lived in the Ptolemaic Kingdom, the city was founded by King Menes. It was the capital of ancient Egypt during both the Early Dynastic Period and Old Kingdom and remained an important city throughout ancient Egyptian history. Memphis occupied a strategic position at the mouth of the Nile Delta. Its principal port, Peru-nefer, featured a high density of workshops, factories, and warehouses that distributed food and merchandise throughout the ancient kingdom. During its golden age, Memphis thrived as a regional centre for commerce, trade, and religion. Memphis was believed to be under the protection of the god Ptah, the patron of craftsmen. Its great temple, Hut-ka-Ptah (meaning 'Enclosure of the ka of Ptah'), was one of the most prominent structures in the city. The name of this temple, rendered in Greek as Aἴγυπτoς (Ai-gy-ptos) by Manetho, is believed to be the etymological origin of the modern English name Egypt. The history of Memphis is closely linked to that of the region itself. Its eventual downfall is believed to have been due to the loss of its economic significance in late antiquity, following the rise of coastal Alexandria. Its religious significance was diminished after the abandonment of the ancient religion following the Edict of Thessalonica (380 AD), which made Nicene Christianity the sole religion of the Roman Empire. By the Middle Ages, nearby Cairo had emerged as a major political and economic center. Today, the ruins of the former capital offer fragmented evidence of its past. Many of its remains have become significant tourist destinations. The name Memphis is also one of the names proposed for The New Capital, naming it after the ruined historical capital.

Reader's Guide

Memphis was the ancient capital of Inebu-hedj, the first nome of Lower Egypt. Its ruins are located near the present-day village of Mit Rahina in Giza Governorate, Egypt. The city was founded, according to Manetho, by King Menes. It served as the capital of Egypt during the Early Dynastic Period and Old Kingdom. Memphis occupied a strategic position at the mouth of the Nile Delta. Its principal port, Peru-nefer, featured a high density of workshops, factories, and warehouses. The city was under the protection of the god Ptah, patron of craftsmen. Its great temple, Hut-ka-Ptah, is believed to be the etymological origin of the modern English name Egypt. The city declined after the rise of coastal Alexandria and the Edict of Thessalonica (380 AD). Today, the ruins are open to the public as an open-air museum, and the site is listed as a World Heritage Site along with its pyramid fields. The alabaster sphinx that guards the Temple of Ptah serves as a memorial of the city's former power and prestige.

Did You Know?

• The name 'Memphis' is the Greek adaptation of Men-nefer, which was the name given to the pyramid of Pepi I, located west of the city.
• According to Manetho, the city was founded by King Menes, though an inscription from the predynastic king Iry-Hor predates Menes by two generations.
• The great temple of Ptah, Hut-ka-Ptah, rendered in Greek as Aἴγυπτoς, is believed to be the etymological origin of the modern English name 'Egypt'.
• Memphis was believed to be under the protection of the god Ptah, the patron of craftsmen, and the Memphis triad consisted of Ptah, his consort Sekhmet, and their son Nefertem.
• The name 'Memphis' is one of the names proposed for The New Capital of Egypt.