A Gazetteer Of Place-Names
Abu Ghurob Site of six sun temples of
Dynasty 5, although only those of Userkaf and Niuserre have been
discovered and excavated. The wall reliefs are now in the Cairo and
Berlin museums.
Abu Simbel Rock-cut temples built by Ramesses II (Dynasty 19) to impress the Nubians. The Great Temple dedicated to Amen-Re and Re-Harakhte and the Smaller Temple dedicated to Hathor and Nefertari were relocated by a UNESCO project. Abusir Group of pyramids belonging to kings of Dynasty 5, excavated by the German Oriental Institute; also some important tombs. Czech archaeologists have discovered and opened the tomb of Ifuaa, a lector-priest and controller of the palace. This rare example of an intact tomb dates to Dynasty 26 (c.600 BC) and contains a magnificent sarcophagus. Abydos A very ancient and important political and religious site; the capital during Dynasty 2; first devoted to the god Khentiamentiu, and then became the great center of Osiris. Famous early dynastic tombs, and the temples of Ramesses II and Sethos I (with the Osireion cenotaph). Akhmim Center of the god Min. The temples are now much destroyed; nobles’ rock-cut tombs (Dynasty 6) nearby. Ashmunein Town of Hermopolis where Thoth was worshiped. Nothing remains of its Old Kingdom importance; its rulers were buried at Deir el-Bersha. Assiut Ancient center of god Wepwawet; particularly important in the First Intermediate Period and Middle Kingdom. Local rulers buried in rock-cut tombs nearby. Aswan and Elephantine The island and town of Elephantine marked Egypt’s boundary with Nubia in the Old Kingdom. Rock-cut tombs of the local governors dating to the Old and Middle Kingdoms are nearby. Granite quarries in the vicinity and the site’s command of the First Cataract and of trading routes to Nubia made it significant.
Beit el-Wali Rock-cut temple built by
Ramesses II and dedicated to Amen-Re now relocated in Kalabsha
Open-Air Museum.
Beni Hasan Rock-cut tombs (First Intermediate Period and Middle Kingdom) of provincial governors with fine painted scenes of daily life. Busiris Ancient Delta town that was one of Osiris’s main cult centers. Buto Pe, the capital of Lower Egypt, was situated here in the Predynastic Period; cult center of goddess Edjo (Wadjet). Coptos Town dedicated to Min; commercial center for caravans going to Punt via the Red Sea. Dahshur Site of five pyramids; two built for Sneferu (Dynasty 4) and one each for Amenemhet II, Amenemhet III, and Senusret III (Dynasty 12). Deir el-Bersha (el-Bersha) Important Dynasty 12 rock-cut tombs of the governors of Khnumu (Ashmunein) similar to those at Beni Hasan. Deir el-Gebrawi Rock-cut tombs of Dynasty 6 belonging to local governors; fine wall paintings of daily life scenes. Denderah Well-preserved temple of Greco- Roman date built on earlier temples. Dedicated to Hathor, worshiped here from Old Kingdom. Interesting sanatorium for medical treatment. Edfu Important center from Old Kingdom; site of best-preserved temple (Greco-Roman Period), dedicated to Horus the Behdetite, husband of Hathor. Esna Partially excavated temple of Khnum (Roman Period), with some of the last extant hieroglyphic inscriptions. Fayoum Fertile oasis attached to the Nile Valley; favored for hunting and fishing by kings and rulers of Dynasty 12 who were buried there (pyramids at Lahun and Hawara). Gebel es-Silsila North of Aswan and considered the source of the Nile; festivals to the Nile god Hapy were held here. Important quarries with many rock-cut stelae and graffiti. Giza One of the world’s most famous sites, this was the necropolis of the kings of Dynasty 4. Its monuments include the Great Pyramid (Cheops) and its solar barks; pyramid, valley temple, and sphinx (of Chephren); pyramid of Mycerinus; smaller associated pyramids; and the nobles’ cemeteries. Hawara Pyramid of Amenemhet III (Dynasty 12), and his “Labyrinth,” housing his royal cult complex and administration headquarters. Mummy portraits found in the nearby Greco-Roman cemetery. Heliopolis Ancient center of sun cult, and claimed to be original site of creation. First sun temple with Benben (solar cult symbol) built here. Heracleopolis Magna Cult center of god Herishef. Very little remains of the town and tombs. Hieraconpolis With the neighboring site of el-Kab this formed the predynastic capital of Upper Egypt where the goddess Nekhbet was worshiped. Hieraconpolis became the center for the worship of Horus, the first royal patron deity. Kahun Royal workmen’s town (Dynasty 12) built to house the workforce engaged in building the nearby Lahun pyramid for Senusret II.
Kalabsha The largest freestanding temple
in Egyptian Nubia, originally located near the town of Talmis;
relocated in recent years to the Open-Air Museum at New Kalabsha, a
promontory near Aswan.
Kom Ombo Unique double temple (Greco- Roman period) dedicated (southern side of building) to Sobek and (northern side) to Haroeris. Interesting carved panel of “medical instruments” on back wall. Lahun Pyramid of Senusret II (Dynasty 12) and shaft tombs of his family where the spectacular royal jewelry and treasure were found. el-Lisht Site of It-towy, capital city during Dynasty 12; site of pyramids and nobles’ tombs of reigns of Amenemhet I and Senusret I. Meidum Unfinished pyramid probably built for Sneferu (Dynasty 4), that apparently collapsed; associated royal cult complex and nobles’ tombs. Meir Rock-cut tombs of local governors (Dynasties 6 and 12), with some of the most interesting wall scenes of the Middle Kingdom. Memphis White Walls, first capital founded by Menes; cult center of Ptah. Its strategic importance ensured that it remained a great political and economic center until Greco- Roman times. Nagada With Badari, this was the site of some of Egypt’s earliest predynastic burials. Nearby are the ruins of Ombos, predynastic capital and cult center of the god Seth. Oxyrhynchus Ancient site of Per-medjeh and a substantial Greco-Roman period town best known for its wealth of Greek, Coptic, and Arabic papyri. Philae Island near Aswan, once occupied by temples including that of Isis, as well as those of Osiris, Harpocrates, Nephthys, Hathor, Khnum, and Satet. In recent years the buildings have been dismantled and reerected on a nearby island in a UNESCO rescue project. Qantir Possibly the site of Pi-Ramesse, the Delta residence built by the Ramesside kings (town called Ramses in the biblical Exodus). Sais Delta city dedicated to goddess Neith; capital of Egypt in Dynasty 26. Saqqara Famous necropolis of Memphis with monuments from most periods. Most famous are Djoser’s Step Pyramid (Dynasty 3), Persian shaft tombs (Dynasty 27), pyramid of Unas (Dynasty 5), mastaba tombs of Ti and Ptah-hotep (Dynasty 5) and Mereruka, Kagemni, and Ankhmahor (Dynasty 6). Also, the Serapeum, subterranean galleries that housed the mummified remains of Apis bulls; these cult animals, each worshiped in its lifetime as the incarnation of the divine Apis bull, were finally interred here in great stone coffins. Tanis Capital during Dynasties 21 and 22 with continued importance in Roman times. Royal tombs and treasure discovered here. Tell el-Amarna City of Akhetaten built by heretic pharaoh Akhenaten (Dynasty 18). Cult center of the Aten; temples to the Aten, royal palaces, and important nobles’ tombs. Tell Basta City (Bubastis) was used by kings of Dynasty 22; cult center of Bastet, the cat goddess; a large necropolis and extensive cat cemetery. Tell el-Dab‘a Recent excavations have indicated that this is probably Avaris, the capital city founded by the Hyksos (Dynasty 15). Tell el-Maskhuta Possibly the ancient city of Pithom mentioned in the biblical Exodus. Tell el-Yahudiyeh This town may have been founded in the Middle Kingdom or Second Intermediate Period, but most remains date to Ramesses II (Dynasty 19). Thebes Great capital of the New Kingdom; many spectacular monuments survive today including the Temples of Luxor and Karnak on the east bank and the cemeteries and royal cult complexes on the west bank, such as the Valleys of the Kings and Queens, many famous nonroyal tombs, and the temples of Sethos I (Qurna), Ramesses II (the Ramesseum), Ramesses III (Medinet Habu), and Hatshepsut (Deir el-Bahri). This Southern capital city in the earliest dynasties with neighboring tombs. .
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A Gazetteer Of Place-Names
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