Egypt - Memphis

Memphis and Sakkara, Egypt – 2018. Memphis was the first capital of ancient Egypt and was founded in about 3100BC by King Menes who united Upper and Lower Egypt. Little remains of the city. We visited a small open air museum in the village of Mit Rahina which features a giant alabaster sphinx and a colossal limestone statue of Ramses II. We did not have a chance to walk to the other various archaeological sites that are near the museum. We then went to Saqqara (Sakkara), the “City of the Dead” which was the royal necropolis of Memphis. One of its important sites is the Step Pyramid of Djoser which was the first pyramid built by the Egyptians. There are a number of other tombs including the Pyramid of Unas and the tomb of Princess Idut both of which we were able to enter.

Statue of Ramses II

The Alabaster Sphinx of Memphis is the largest calcite statue ever discovered

Colossal statue of Ramses II. It is carved from limestone and is about 10m (34ft) long.

Detail of the right hand of the Colossal statue of Ramses II

The entrance to Saqqara (Sakkara), the “City of the Dead” which was the royal necropolis of Memphis

Pyramid of Teti, the first ruler of Egypt's 6th Dynasty

An entrance through the wall surrounding the Funerary complex of Djoser

Funerary complex of Djoser – the Heb-sed courtyard

Three statues at the south east side of the Heb-sed courtyard

Step Pyramid of Djoser at Saqqara. It was the first pyramid built by the Egyptians

House of the South, located to the East of the Step Pyramid, Saqqara

Pyramid of Unas, Saqqara

Text on the wall of the Antechamber inside the Pyramid of Unas. These are the first known examples of Pyramid texts

Step Pyramid of Djoser at Saqqara. It was the first pyramid built by the Egyptians

Reliefs on the inside of the Tomb of Princess Idut who was Unas' daughter – Scribes at work

Reliefs on the inside of the Tomb of Princess Idut – the reliefs on the walls of this tomb depict scenes of everyday life

Reliefs on the inside of the Tomb of Princess Idut who was Unas' daughter – Boat

Reliefs on the inside of the Tomb of Princess Idut – bringing offerings of food and flowers

Reliefs on the inside of the Tomb of Princess Idut – slaughtering a cow