Memphis

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Memphis was the capital of Egypt throughout the Old Kingdom and during parts of the New Kingdom, and remained an important administrative centre throughout the full span of ancient Egyptian history. It was positioned strategically between the upper and lower parts of Egypt, and had a population of as many as 30,000 people at its peak during the Sixth Dynasty - making it the largest settlement worldwide from the time of its foundation until around 2250 BC, then again from 1557 to 1400 BC.

The powerful cult of Ptah was based at Memphis, and gave it much of its clout. However, the rise of Thebes and Alexandria both caused the city to decline in strength. Alexandria was the first city of Roman Egypt; the establishment of Fustat as the first capital of Arab Egypt sealed Memphis's fate, and the city descended into ruin, with many of its stones being plundered for surrounding settlements.

Its modern remains lie 20 kilometres south of Cairo, Mit Rahina, Dahshur, Saqqara, Abusir, Abu Gorab, and Zawyet el'Aryan all lie within its administrative borders. There are a many impressive statues, particularly at Memphis's open air museum, which features the ten metre Colossus of Ramesses II. The royal necropolis of Saqqara is nearby.