Download Memphis gained great importance during the early dynastic period

Memphis gained great importance during the early dynastic period, and it became the
Egyptian capital during the Old Kingdom. Even when Egyptian politics made other cities
such as Amarna or Thebes, the capital, Memphis still had cultural and religious
importance. Memphis was the home of the great temple to Ptah, its patron god, and it was
close to some of the chief burial sites of the pharaohs.
Memphis, which sits on the west side of the Nile River approximately 15 miles south of
Cairo, has had a long history. Founded by the legendary Egyptian king, Menes, the name
"Memphis" comes from the Greek "Men-nefer" meaning "established and beautiful."
During the Old Kingdom, the Egyptians built much of what we think of as Egyptian
architecture. The mastabas, the earliest of the pyramid tombs, and then the step pyramid,
eventually developed into the Great Pyramid of Khufu at Giza. Saqqara, just to the
southwest of Memphis, was the royal burial site of the city. As the capital of the Old
Kingdom, Memphis was the heart of Egypt, serving as the home of the pharaoh, chief
priests, and nobles. Pharaohs ruled from Memphis, using regional governors to maintain
the kingdom.
Later during the New Kingdom, Memphis was known as the home of the great temple to
Ptah, who was originally the patron god of craftsmen and artisans but in time became one
of the gods associated with the sun. The temple, like the city, was known as the "mansion
of Ptah."
Article adapted from: "Memphis." World History: Ancient and Medieval Eras. ABCCLIO, 2010. Web. 5 Sept. 2010. <http://ancienthistory.abc-clio.com/>