Memphis

Memphis is the Greek name of the administrative capital of ancient Egypt, whose historical roots reach back to the early Dynastic period. The origin of the city is linked to the "mythical" first king, Menes. It was traditionally believed that Menes intended to enclose his city within white mud-brick walls, which gave it the old name "Inbw-Hedj", meaning "white walls" or "the White Fortress", and it probably once stood on the bank of the Nile. The name Memphis comes from the Egyptian "Mennefer", the ancient name of the pyramid complex of Pepy I (Dynasty VI), located nearby in South Saqqara.
The most impressive monument lies inside the modern museum building. This huge limestone statue of Ramesses II is the twin of the statue that for decades stood in the centre of Midan Ramses in Cairo, but was moved to Giza. The museum holds only a fragment, but even without its lower limbs it measures almost thirteen metres, and it once stood with its companion outside the temple of Ptah in Memphis. Another important monument in the enclosure is a huge limestone Sphinx from the New Kingdom.
The city of Memphis was of great importance throughout the history of the pharaohs. For most of the time it was the capital of the "Two Lands", but even when Thebes rose to become the royal and religious capital in the New Kingdom, Memphis probably retained the status of the administrative capital of the country. The city lost its importance in Ptolemaic times, when Alexandria became the favoured royal residence.