Capitals
Capitals of Ancient Egypt
All dates are BC
Thinis
Egyptian name Tjenu. Exact location unknown (2012).
First pharaohs were born in Thinis, but they moved capital to Memphis.
Memphis
Capital of Egypt for more than 900 years:
3050-2180 (Dynasties I-VIII)
1290-1279 (Seti I)
715-664 (Kushite rulers, based in Napata ruled Egypt from Memphis)
Memphis had many names.
Inebou-Hedjou (The white walls)
Djed-Sut (Everlasting places)
Ankh-Tawy (Life of two lands)
Men-nefer (Enduring and beautiful)
Menfe (Coptic name)
Memphis (Greek corruption of the name)
Moph and Noph (in Bible)
Mit Rahina (now)
Men-nefer (mn nfr) - name from 1550 BC
Memphis was believed to be under protection of the god Ptah. City was also capital of one 42 nomes (adminastrative division) of Ancient Egypt. It was capital for nomoi number 1 Aneb-Hetch in Lower Egypt (all together 20 nomois in Lower Egypt).
Nome 1 Aneb-Hetch. Memphis was capital of this nome.
Herakleopolis
Herakleopolis Magna is the Greek name.
Was capital of IX and X dynasties (2180-2060).
In Anctient Egypt town had different names:
Henen-nesut
Hwt-nen-nesu (house of royal child)
Hnas or Hnes (coptic)
Ahnas (arabic)
Ihnasiya Umm al-Kimam (current, meaning mother of the shards)
Ihnasiyyah al-Madinah (current)
Capital of Ancient Egypt Upper-Egypt nome 20 Atef-Khent.
Atef-Khent
Thebes
Capital of the Egypt more than 600 years:
2135-1985
1785-1650
1650-1353
1332-1290
Current Luxor (Al-Uqsur).
Waset - City of the Sceptre
Waset
niw.t rs.t Southern City
iwnw-sm - Heliopolis of the South
Itjawy (Faiyum)
Capital of Egypt for 200 years (1985-1785).
King Amenemhat I moved capital from Thebes to region of Faiyum).
Capital got name Amenemhat-tj-tawy (Amenemhat - the Seizer of the Two Lands).
Xois
Capital of the Egypt for 65 years for Hyksos dynasty (XIV).
Also known by the name Khasut, Khaset or Skha.
Avaris
Capital of Egypt for 70 yars (1650-1580).
Known as Hut-waret and Hatuaret.
Akhetaten
Capital of Egypt at the time of king Akenaten for 21 years.
Known also as el-Amarna.
Akhetaten (Horizon of the Aten).
Pi-Ramesses
Pi-Ramesses Aa-nakhtu (House of Ramesses, Great in Victory) was Capital of Egypt 1279-1078.
At the time of Ramesses XI Smendes took power in the north of Egypt and as also Nile
changed the rout, capital was moved to the Tanis. 30 km north from Pi-Ramesse, where Nile was then.
Tanis
From here to the end of pharaoonic Egypt every dynasty has it own capital.
Tanis ( Djanet) was capital 1078-945.
Now Deir el-Hagar.
Bubastis
Bubastis if Greek name of Tell Basta or Per-Bast.
Per-Bast means "House of Bast".
Was capital of Egypt for 230 years.
Capital of nome Am-Khent.
Per-bastet.
Sais
Capital of Egypt for 150 years (725-715, 664-525).
It was provincial capital of Sap-Meh with original name Sau or Zau.
Sau
Sap-Meh
Mendes
Capital for 19 years.
Ancient Egyptian name is Per-Banebfjedet and Anpet.
Also known as Djedet.
Capital of nome Kha (Fish).
Today as Tell El-Ruba.
Sebennytos
Capital of Egypt for 37 years.
Egyptian name Tjebnutjer (Tjeb-Neter).
Capital of nome Theb-ka (Calf and cow, 12).
Alexandria
Founded by Alexander the Great in April 331 BC.
Egyptian name Ra-Katit.
