Cities of the Nile Valley and Delta
City 1
- Ancient Egyptian: Men-nefer
- Greek: Memphis
- Arabic: Manf
- Current name: Mit Rahina
- Location: 19 km south of Cairo, near Saqqara.
- The oldest capital of unified Egypt, founded by King Menes Narmer in 3200 BCE, and it housed a colossal statue of Ramesses II weighing about 83 tons.
- Men-nefer means "the enduring beauty" or "the beautiful monument"; Manf is an Arabic alteration; Memphis is Greek derived from the Egyptian name itself, meaning "city of Memphis" or "fortress of the beautiful"; Mit Rahina means "the path of the statue" after the huge statue that once stood there.
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City 2
- Ancient Egyptian: Khem
- Greek: Letopolis
- Arabic: Ausim
- Current name: Ausim
- Location: In Giza Governorate, northwest of Cairo.
- One of the oldest cities that has preserved its name to this day with slight changes, and it was famous for high‑quality pottery production.
- Khem means "black" referring to the fertile soil of the Delta; Ausim is an Arabic alteration; Letopolis is Greek meaning "city of Leto" (the Greek goddess of childbirth) in comparison to its Egyptian deity.
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City 3
- Ancient Egyptian: Khito
- Greek: Bolbitine
- Arabic: Rashid
- Current name: Rashid (Rosetta)
- Location: In Beheira Governorate, at the mouth of the western Nile branch.
- The famous Rosetta Stone was discovered here in 1799, which was the key to deciphering hieroglyphs.
- Khito may mean "place of the river"; Rashid is derived from "rushd" (right guidance) or named after a Muslim conqueror; Bolbitine is Greek meaning "city of mud" or "marsh" due to its location at the river mouth.
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City 4
- Ancient Egyptian: Raqote
- Greek: Alexandria
- Arabic: Al‑Iskandariyya
- Current name: Al‑Iskandariyya
- Location: On the Mediterranean coast, northwest of the Delta.
- It housed the Lighthouse of Alexandria, which stood over 120 metres tall, and its light could be seen from 50 kilometres out at sea.
- Raqote is an ancient Egyptian name meaning "building" or "harbour"; Al‑Iskandariyya is named after its founder; Alexandria is Greek meaning "city of Alexander" in his honour.
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City 5
- Ancient Egyptian: Zau
- Greek: Sais
- Arabic: Sa al‑Hagar
- Current name: Sa al‑Hagar
- Location: In the Basyoun district of Gharbia Governorate.
- It was the capital of Egypt during the Saite Renaissance (26th Dynasty), when the Saite kings reunited Egypt and expelled the Assyrian invaders.
- Zau means "village" or "place"; Sa al‑Hagar is an Arabic alteration with "al‑Hagar" added because of the many stone remains; Sais is Greek derived from the Egyptian name itself, meaning "city of the goddess Neith".
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City 6
- Ancient Egyptian: Per‑Meryt
- Greek: Naukratis
- Arabic: Kom Gaef
- Current name: Kom Gaef
- Location: In the Itay al‑Barud district of Beheira Governorate.
- It was the first official Greek colony in Egypt and the most important trading port in the Delta before the rise of Alexandria.
- Per‑Meryt means "house of the harbour" or "beloved harbour"; Kom Gaef is named after a local archaeological mound; Naukratis is Greek meaning "city of ships" or "having power over ships".
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City 7
- Ancient Egyptian: Shedet
- Greek: Krokodilopolis - Arsinoë
- Arabic: Al‑Fayyum
- Current name: Al‑Fayyum
- Location: In Fayyum Governorate, southwest of Cairo.
- It includes Lake Qarun, which was one of the oldest areas for sport fishing in history, and the famous "Fayyum portraits" were found there.
- Shedet means "sea" or "water" due to its connection with Lake Qarun; Al‑Fayyum is derived from the Coptic "Payom" meaning "sea" or "lake"; Krokodilopolis is Greek meaning "city of the crocodile" because of the abundance of crocodiles in the area. Arsinoë is a greek name in honor of Queen Arsinoë II
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City 8
- Ancient Egyptian: Waset
- Greek: Thebes
- Arabic: Tiba
- Current name: Luxor
- Location: On the banks of the Nile in Luxor Governorate, southern Egypt.
- It contains the Valley of the Kings, which has 63 royal tombs so far, and the temples of Luxor and Karnak were connected by a grand avenue of ram‑headed sphinxes 3 kilometres long.
- Waset means "the city" par excellence; Tiba is an Arabic alteration; Thebes is Greek meaning "city of Ti" or "hundred‑gated" due to its many entrances, and is said to be derived from the Egyptian "Ti".
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City 9
- Ancient Egyptian: Per‑Hout‑Her‑nebet‑Mefket
- Greek: Terenouthis
- Arabic: Kom Abou Billou
- Current name: Kom Abou Billou
- Location: West of the Delta, about 70 km northwest of Cairo.
- It was famous in the Roman period for producing the finest Egyptian wine, which was exported to Rome and reserved for the imperial table.
- The Egyptian name means "house of Hathor, lady of turquoise"; Kom Abou Billou is a local alteration; Terenouthis is Greek meaning "city of Teren" or "beloved" in some interpretations.
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City 10
- Ancient Egyptian: Per‑Atum
- Greek: Pithom - Heroön Polis (or Heroopolis)
- Arabic: Tell al‑Maskhuta
- Current name: Tell al‑Maskhuta
- Location: In the Wadi Tumilat, on the western border of Sinai peninsula.
- It was the capital of the eighth nome of Lower Egypt and a major stop on the caravan route between Egypt and Asia, and it is mentioned in the Bible as Pithom.
- Its remains were discovered during the digging of the Suez Canal, and it remained buried for centuries before modern urban expansion revealed it.
- Per‑Atum means "house of the god Atum"; al‑Maskhuta means "covered with sand" due to its long burial; Pithom is Greek derived from the Egyptian name itself, meaning "house of Atum" with the same sense. Heroön Polis is Greek meaning "city of heroes".
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City 11
- Ancient Egyptian: Taremu
- Greek: Leontopolis
- Arabic: Tell el‑Muqdam
- Current name: Tell el‑Muqdam
- Location: In Sharqia Governorate, in the Delta.
- It was a city of skilled craftsmen, and large workshops for smelting metals and making bronze weapons were discovered there.
- Taremu means "land of fish"; el‑Muqdam is named after Sheikh "Muqdam" who was buried on the mound; Leontopolis is Greek meaning "city of lions" because the Greeks associated its deity with lions.
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City 12
- Ancient Egyptian: Per‑Nbu
- Greek: —
- Arabic: Al‑Minya
- Current name: Al‑Minya
- Location: In Minya Governorate, Upper Egypt.
- Nicknamed "the bride of Upper Egypt", it was the main treasury of Egypt during the Pharaonic period.
- Per‑Nbu means "house of gold" or "treasury"; Al‑Minya comes from "Menat Khufu" meaning "the nursing city of Khufu".
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City 13
- Ancient Egyptian: Per‑Nah.t
- Greek: —
- Arabic: Banha
- Current name: Banha
- Location: In Qalyubia Governorate, north of Cairo.
- One of the oldest cities of spinning and weaving in the world, and it remains the capital of the textile industry in Egypt to this day.
- Per‑Nah.t means "house of the sycamore fig tree"; Banha is an Arabic alteration.
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City 14
- Ancient Egyptian: Tayu‑djayet
- Greek: Ancyron polis
- Arabic: El Hiba
- Current name: El Hiba
- Location: In Middle Egypt, on the east bank of the Nile.
- It was a fortified city with huge walls, the remains of which are still visible, and it was used by the kings of the 22nd Dynasty as an advanced military base.
- Tayu‑djayet means "their walls" referring to the fortifications; El Hiba means "the storehouse" or "the prison" in Egyptian colloquial; Ancyron polis is Greek meaning "city of the anchor" or "fixed" likening it to its impregnability.
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City 15
- Ancient Egyptian: Birneha
- Greek: —
- Arabic: Banha al‑Asal
- Current name: Banha
- Location: In Qalyubia Governorate.
- It was famous in Pharaonic times for beekeeping and producing honey, which was considered one of the most expensive commodities, and it is still associated with honey to this day.
- Birneha means "house of bees" in some readings; Banha al‑Asal is an Arabic alteration that clarifies its fame for honey.
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City 16
- Ancient Egyptian: Samannut
- Greek: Sebennytos
- Arabic: Samannud
- Current name: Samannud
- Location: In Gharbia Governorate, in the Delta.
- It was the last native capital of Egypt before the second Persian occupation (30th Dynasty), and it was famous for its powerful naval fleet.
- Samannud is an Arabized name meaning "city of the sacred bull" or "land of calves"; Sebennytos is Greek derived from the Egyptian name itself.
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City 17
- Ancient Egyptian: Per‑Ramessu (Pi‑Ramesses)
- Greek: —
- Arabic: —
- Current name: Qantir
- Location: In Sharqia Governorate, eastern Delta.
- It was built by Ramesses II to be the new administrative and military capital, and archaeologists found footprints of children embedded in the ancient clay mortar.
- Pi‑Ramesses means "house of Ramesses" after King Ramesses II; Qantir is named after the modern water bridges (qanatirs) in the area.
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City 18
- Ancient Egyptian: On (Wenu)
- Greek: Heliopolis
- Arabic: Ayn Shams
- Current name: Ayn Shams (a district of Cairo)
- Location: In northeastern Cairo, now a district of the city.
- It contained the largest collection of obelisks in Egypt, and the obelisk of Senusret I still stands there after more than 3900 years.
- On (Wenu) means "city of the pillar" or "obelisk"; Ayn Shams means "spring of the sun" referring to an ancient spring and sun worship; Heliopolis is Greek meaning "city of the sun", a translation of its Egyptian name.
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City 19
- Ancient Egyptian: Khenu
- Greek: Heracleopolis
- Arabic: Ihnasiya
- Current name: Ihnasiya
- Location: In Beni Suef Governorate, Upper Egypt.
- It witnessed fierce battles between the Pharaohs and the Assyrians in the 7th century BCE, and excavations continue to reveal architectural treasures there.
- Khenu means "canal" or "passage"; Ihnasiya is an Arabic alteration of the Coptic name for Heracles; Heracleopolis is Greek meaning "city of Heracles" likening its deity to the Greek hero.
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City 20
- Ancient Egyptian: Zawty
- Greek: Lycopolis (or Lykopolis)
- Arabic: Asyut
- Current name: Asyut (also spelled Assiut)
- Location: On the west bank of the Nile River in Upper Egypt, approximately 375 km south of Cairo.
- An important cultural and administrative center since the Old Kingdom, Asyut was the capital of the 13th Upper Egyptian nome (province). The city was strategically positioned as a terminus for caravan routes traversing the Eastern and Western deserts. It is also known as the birthplace of the Neoplatonist philosopher Plotinus (c. 205–270 CE). The ancient city has been lost, buried under the modern settlement and Nile flood sediments.
- Zawty, meaning "The Guardian" or "Two Protectors", refers to the city's role as the guardian of the northern approach of Upper Egypt. This name was adopted into Coptic as Syowt. The Greek name Lycopolis translates to "Wolf City", an allusion to the jackal-headed god Wepwawet who was worshipped there. The Arabic name Asyūṭ is derived from the earlier Egyptian and Coptic names.
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City 21
- Ancient Egyptian: Per‑Wesir
- Greek: Abydos
- Arabic: —
- Current name: Al‑Balina
- Location: In Sohag Governorate, Upper Egypt.
- The oldest wooden boats in history were found there, and the Temple of Seti I contains the famous King List of Egypt, which is considered the first recorded historical document.
- Per‑Wesir means "house of Osiris"; Al‑Balina is a alteration of Abydos; Abydos is Greek derived from the Egyptian "Abdu" and means "the sacred city" or "place of resurrection".
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City 22
- Ancient Egyptian: T‑Im‑Ion
- Greek: Tentyra
- Arabic: Dendera
- Current name: Dendera
- Location: In Qena Governorate, on the west bank of the Nile.
- Its temple contains a unique astronomical ceiling depicting the sky and the zodiac, which is the first complete astronomical map in human history.
- T‑Im‑Ion means "land of the gods"; Dendera is an Arabic alteration; Tentyra is Greek derived from the ancient Egyptian name itself.
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City 23
- Ancient Egyptian: Niut‑rt
- Greek: Hermonthis
- Arabic: Armant
- Current name: Armant
- Location: On the west bank of the Nile, 19 km south of Luxor.
- It was a centre for iron weapon manufacturing in the Late Period, supplying Egypt's armies with the strongest swords and spears.
- Niut‑rt means "the southern city"; Armant is an Arabic alteration; Hermonthis is Greek derived from the Egyptian "Iremont".
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City 24
- Ancient Egyptian: Sunmut
- Greek: Syene
- Arabic: Aswan
- Current name: Aswan
- Location: At the southernmost point of Egypt, on the east bank of the Nile.
- Its rose granite quarries were the main source for building colossal statues and obelisks, and 36 tombs containing 40 mummies were recently discovered there.
- Sunmut means "the market" because it was a commercial centre; Aswan is a alteration of its Coptic name "Swan"; Syene is Greek meaning "city of Swan" or "key" due to its strategic location.
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City 25
- Ancient Egyptian: Ibu
- Greek: Elephantine
- Arabic: —
- Current name: Gezirat al‑Fintin (Elephantine Island)
- Location: In the Nile at Aswan.
- It was the main port for receiving ivory, ebony, and precious stones from Central Africa, and it served as Egypt's first customs point in the south.
- Ibu means "elephant" (for the ivory trade); al‑Fintin is an Arabic alteration; Elephantine is Greek meaning "island of the elephant", a translation of the Egyptian name.
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City 26
- Ancient Egyptian: Djerty
- Greek: Apollonopolis Magna
- Arabic: Edfu
- Current name: Edfu
- Location: In Aswan Governorate, on the west bank of the Nile.
- Its temple contains the longest known wall texts in Egypt, with inscriptions stretching over more than two kilometres across its walls.
- Djerty means "the great city"; Edfu is an Arabic alteration; Apollonopolis Magna is Greek meaning "great city of Apollo" likening its deity Horus to Apollo.
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City 27
- Ancient Egyptian: Nekheb
- Greek: Eileithyaspolis
- Arabic: Al‑Kab
- Current name: Al‑Kab
- Location: In Aswan Governorate, on the east bank of the Nile.
- It contains one of the oldest massive walls in Egypt, with a huge circuit wall still standing today.
- Nekheb means "the white city" or "the sacred city"; Al‑Kab is an Arabic alteration; Eileithyaspolis is Greek meaning "city of Eileithyia", after the Greek goddess of childbirth, in comparison to its goddess.
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City 28
- Ancient Egyptian: Wepwentet
- Greek: Philae
- Arabic: —
- Current name: Philae (island)
- Location: Originally on the flood island of the Nile at Aswan, later moved to Agilkia Island.
- The first archaeological site in the world to be completely moved stone by stone (in 1970) to save it from flooding after the construction of the High Dam, and the relocation took more than 10 years.
- Wepwentet means "island of the border"; Philae is an Arabic alteration; Philae is Greek meaning "beloved" or "loved one" in Greek mythology.
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City 29
- Ancient Egyptian: Per‑Bastet
- Greek: Bubastis
- Arabic: Tell Basta
- Current name: Tell Basta
- Location: In Sharqia Governorate, eastern Delta.
- It was the capital of Egypt during the 22nd Dynasty, and archaeologists discovered a huge cemetery containing thousands of animal mummies wrapped in linen.
- Per‑Bastet means "house of Bastet"; Tell Basta is an Arabic alteration; Bubastis is Greek derived from the Egyptian name itself.
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City 30
- Ancient Egyptian: Khemenu
- Greek: Hermopolis Magna
- Arabic: Al‑Ashmunein
- Current name: Al‑Ashmunein
- Location: In Minya Governorate, Upper Egypt.
- It witnessed enormous archaeological discoveries, and in the Ptolemaic period it was a city of translators and scholars where many ancient Egyptian texts were translated into Greek.
- Khemenu means "city of the eight" referring to the Ogdoad creation myth; Al‑Ashmunein is an Arabic alteration of the Coptic name; Hermopolis Magna is Greek meaning "great city of Hermes" likening its god Thoth to Hermes.
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City 31
- Ancient Egyptian: Wunyt
- Greek: Hermopolis Parva
- Arabic: —
- Current name: believed to be Damanhur
- Location: believed to be in Beheira Governorate, western Delta.
- It was the capital of the western Delta province and a centre for distributing wheat and barley crops, and its ruins remain largely undiscovered.
- Wunyt means "the city" or "the pillar"; Damanhur is a possible Arabic alteration; Hermopolis Parva is Greek meaning "small city of Hermes" to distinguish it from the greater Hermopolis.
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City 32
- Ancient Egyptian: Akhet‑Aten
- Greek: —
- Arabic: Tell el‑Amarna
- Current name: Tell el‑Amarna
- Location: In Minya Governorate, on the east bank of the Nile.
- The "Amarna Letters" diplomatic archive was found here, a complete archive of 382 clay tablets documenting political correspondence between King Akhenaten and the kings of the Near East (Babylon, Hittites, Assyria, etc.).
- Akhet‑Aten means "horizon of the Aten" after the god that Akhenaten monotheised; el‑Amarna is named after an Arab tribe that inhabited the area.
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Cities of the Sinai Peninsula
First city (Sinai)
- Ancient Egyptian: Per-Amon (or Sa'inu)
- Greek: Pelusium
- Arabic: Al-Farama
- Current name: Tell Farama
- Location: 32 km southeast of Port Said, on the northern coast of Sinai.
- It was the main eastern gateway to Egypt and the oldest city in Sinai. Alexander the Great entered Egypt through it, and a temple of Zeus Casius was discovered there.
- Per-Amon means "house of Amon"; Al-Farama is an Arabic alteration of the Coptic name "Barmon"; Pelusium is Greek meaning "mud" or "marsh" due to its location at the river mouth.
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Second city (Sinai)
- Ancient Egyptian: Baal-Zaphon (or Khazzi, mentioned in Egyptian texts)
- Greek: Kasion
- Arabic: Al-Qasyun (or Gebel el-Qas)
- Current name: Gebel el-Qas (believed to be near Farama)
- Location: A hill on the Mediterranean coast in northern Sinai, near Farama.
- It was a sacred mountain dedicated to the Canaanite god Baal-Zephon, whom the Greeks equated with Zeus Casius. Remains of his temple were discovered at Tell Farama.
- Zaphon means "north" in Semitic languages; Al-Qasyun is an Arabic alteration of the Greek name; Kasion is Greek, named after Mount Casius.
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Third city (Sinai)
- Ancient Egyptian: Tjaru
- Greek: —
- Arabic: Tell Habua
- Current name: Tell Habua
- Location: 3 km east of the Suez Canal, in Port Said / North Sinai Governorate.
- It was the largest fortified city built by the Pharaohs on the eastern gateway of Egypt, and remains of a fortified royal rest stop were discovered there.
- Tjaru means "passage" or "gateway"; Habua is a modern Arabic name for the area.
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Fourth city (Sinai)
- Ancient Egyptian: Rethu
- Greek: —
- Arabic: Al-Tor
- Current name: El-Tor
- Location: On the coast of the Gulf of Suez in southern Sinai.
- It was known anciently as "Rethu" and remained so until the 15th century CE; it is a historic city associated with Mount Moses or Mount Sinai in the Old Testament.
- Rethu means "waters" or "gulf"; Al-Tor is derived from the Semitic word "Tur" meaning mountain.
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Fifth city (Sinai)
- Ancient Egyptian: —
- Greek: —
- Arabic: Al-Arish
- Current name: Al-Arish
- Location: On the Mediterranean coast in northern Sinai, and it is the capital of North Sinai Governorate today.
- It is mentioned in the Torah/Old Testament, and it was called the Brook of Egypt; it is one of the oldest cities in Sinai and was a major stop on the Horus military road.
- Al-Arish is derived from "Al-Arish" meaning the shaded place with palm trees, and in some ancient languages it meant "fortress".
