Memphis (Mit Rahina)

Site, Memphis, Saqqara and Dahshur · also called Mit Rahina, Mit Rahina Open Air Museum, Men-nefer, Ineb-hedj, White Walls, Memphis Egypt

At Mit Rahina, on the site of ancient Memphis, you can read the cartouches of Ramesses II carved deep into a colossal statue, at arm's length. A small open-air museum around it holds statues, stelae and blocks from the city's temple of Ptah.

Memphis was Egypt's capital for much of its history. By tradition it was founded around 3000 BC by the first king, Menes, often identified with Narmer. It was the city of the creator god Ptah, and its dead were buried at Saqqara, Dahshur and Giza. Most of it now lies under fields and palm groves.

Its names are good first words to read. The early city was Ineb-hedj, the White Walls. Later it took the name of Pepi I's pyramid town, Men-nefer, "enduring and beautiful", which the Greeks turned into Memphis. The temple was Hut-ka-Ptah, "mansion of the ka of Ptah". In Greek that became Aigyptos, the root of our word Egypt.

The open-air museum is small. An hour is enough, and Saqqara is a short drive away, so most people see both in one morning. The standing twin of the big colossus, which stood for decades in Ramesses Square in Cairo, now greets visitors at the Grand Egyptian Museum.

What to see and read

Colossus of Ramesses II

The limestone giant lies on its back in a hall with a gallery above it. His cartouches are cut on the right shoulder, on the chest and on the belt. Read the birth name, Ramesses beloved of Amun, and the throne name, Usermaatre Setepenre.

Alabaster sphinx

A large calcite sphinx with no royal name, so whom it portrays is uncertain.

Statues and stelae in the garden

Royal statues, column pieces and inscribed blocks line the paths. Look for the sedge and bee that stand before a king's throne name.

Apis embalming house

Calcite tables shaped like lion beds, where the sacred Apis bulls of Ptah were prepared for burial at the Serapeum, if this area is open when you visit.

Names you can find here

Signs to look for

Cartouche V10 Every royal name on the colossus sits inside a cartouche ring.
Goddess Maat C10mꜣꜥt The seated goddess Maat is the heart of the throne name Usermaatre on the shoulder and belt.
Adze U21stp The adze writes setep, chosen, in Setepenre, the second half of the throne name.
Three fox skins F31ms Three fox skins spell mes in the birth name Ramesses.
Game board Y5mn The game board writes men, in Men-nefer and in the god's name Amun, in meri-Amun.

Reading the hieroglyphs here

From the gallery above the colossus, the belt cartouche fits in one photo.
Morning or late light rakes across the garden statues and lifts worn signs.
Shallow signs on the garden blocks read better if you trace over your photo in Hiero Lens.

Point your camera at a wall Hiero Lens boxes the signs and names them, on your phone; nothing is uploaded. On worn stone, trace a sign over the photo.

Questions

Where is the other statue of Ramesses II from Memphis?

The standing colossus that stood in Ramesses Square in Cairo was moved in 2006. It now stands in the Grand Egyptian Museum at Giza.

What does the name Memphis mean?

It comes from Men-nefer, "enduring and beautiful". That was first the name of Pepi I's pyramid town, and later of the whole city.

Where it is

Open in OpenStreetMap · Written from published sources and not yet checked on site by our team: displays and open tombs change.