Memphis in Egypt

Memphis is important for its past role as the capital of Ancient Egypt for nearly 1,000 years, and the city for which Saqqara was the royal necropolis. It was also the spiritual centre for the worship of Ptah, the god of creativity and art. The great temple to Ptah forms the heart of the open-air museum at Memphis; statues and sphinxes are dotted throughout the ruins and a large modern building covers a colossal statue of Ramesses II (the Great). Much of the city’s previous pomp and grandeur has been lost to the ages, but it still makes for a fascinating visit to complement the more renowned big hitters for history buffs and those with a hankering for all things Ancient Egypt.