referred omega in the religious texts of the ΡΥ Υ ἘΕΣ was Ha(t)-ka-ptah, ‘the abode (or temple) of the likeness of god Ptah,’ whence the designation of all Egypt as Al-yu-rros, L-gy-pt, seems to have arisen.
Memphis was one of the most ancient cities of Egypt, at least near it was the earliest residence of those Pharaohs who ruled over both Upper and Lower Egypt. Herodotus (ii. 99) reports that the earliest historical king Menes (before 3000 B.c., an accurate determination of the date will never be found) built M. after winning the ground from the Nile by an immense dyke, still existing in Hero- dotus’ time, 100 stadia (7.e. almost 12 miles) south of M., and completely changing the course of the river (?). Menes, Herodotus says, built the temple of Hephestus (i.e. Ptah). This tradition is now supported by hieroglyphic we et as old az the 14th cent. B.c., claiming indeed king Mena, Meni, as founder of that most ancient and most important temple, the Ha(t)-ka-ptah or ‘sanctuary of Ptah.’ Diodorus attributes the foundation of M. to a king Uchoreus, a name admitting of n> certain identification. The name Memphis origin- ated from a new suburb which grew up to the west of the original city, around the pyramid of king Pepi (Apopi) I. of Dynasty 6 (c. 2700 B.C. %, that pyramid being called Mennofer, ‘ good abode’ (see above).
We can observe that before this time the city, or at least a large part of it, was shifted repeatedly over a space of several miles. Most kings liked to build a new palace, and around it their ‘ own city.’
MEMPHIS
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Consequently it might be disputed if this changing series of cities and suburbs can properly be called Memphis. But if the name is not old, and the situation was as unstable as that of many Oriental cities, the religious centre, the temple of Ptah, always remained the same.
The city extended on the western bank of the Nile over an area of 150 stadia (more than 17 miles) from N. to S., according to Diodorus. From E. to W. the diameter cannot have been more than 3 miles. The names of several quarters are known : the quarter of Sokari(s) (now Sakkara), near the desert in the west, touching the necro-
olis, a part of which was called Ko-kome (‘of the flante bull’). The‘ White wall’ was the chief pene of the city, with the citadel, always occupied by a strong garrison. Another quarter was Makha- toui, ‘the balance of both countries.’ Ankh-toui, ‘the life of both countries,’ in the E. was on the bank of the Nile, a quarter rich in temples, but also in pleasure-places, a temple of the Syrian goddess Astarte combining both functions. This part was inhabited by a mixed Βορα δυο; The classical writers (above all Herodotus, about 450 B.c., and Strabo, 24 B.C.) give very impressive descriptions of the several large temples, especially of the old ‘sanctuary of Bist ΠΟ ποτ ον remark- able for immense statues (75 feet) standing before it. Almost every king had built here ; the largest art of the various constructions seems to have
een due to the greatest builder of ancient Egypt, Ramses Π., the Sesostris of the Greeks. Canals crossed the city; an artificial lake was in the western part.
The chief local god of Memphis was Ptah, the former of the world, whose high priest had there- fore the name ‘the great workman.’ Other divinities were, 6...» fie han headed goddess Sokh- met, the Egyp. Asclepius Imouthes (J-m-hotep), Nefer-Atwm, ete. The western suburb had its own local god Sokari, a hawk sitting in a kind of sledge, later assimilated to Osiris, the god of the d The Serapeum, described by Strabo (p. 807), was in this quarter. The worship of Apis (Hap), the sacred animal of Osiris-Sokaris—according to ἜΘΡΕΙ͂ΟΣ belief the incarnation of this god himself—
its own temple opposite the ree temple of Ptah. The Apis was a black bull with certain white spots and other marks—the description of which, by the classical writers, e.g. Herod. ii. 153, does not agree with the monumental evidence. Also the cow, which had been mother of an Apis, was adored in a special temple. Sometimes all Egypt was searched for a new Apis for a long time. The discovery, the bringing to Memphis, and the solemn enthronization were public festivals of the highest rank, immense sums being fre- quently contributed by the kings for the celebra- tion. Likewise thedeath of the Apis was followed by public mourning and a splendid burial in the large crypt at Sakkara. Mariette found there, in 1859, sixty-four embalmed bodies of sacred bulls and cows. The goddess Isis had a remarkable temple, finished by king Amasis (c. 550 B.C.)
Memphis owed its importance chiefly to its situation near the southern angle of the Delta, where the Libyan mountain-ridge in the W. almost meets with the Arabian mountains in the E. It thus commanded all Egypt, just as Cairo does at
resent. Dynasties 3, 4, 6, 7, 8 are reported to
ave been Memphitic. The city continued to be the unrivalled metropolis down to Dynasty 18 (beginning about 1650 B.c.) Dynasties from Upper Egypt, as, e.g., 11 and 12 (from Thebes), coald not disregard it; also the foreign invaders, called Hyksos or ‘shepherd kings,’ seem to have resided here. Only during Dyn. 18 to 20 (toc. 1100 B.c.) Thebes, as residence of the kings, rivalled success-