Editing Memphis, Egypt (section)

===Great Temple of Ptah===
[[File:Memphis-temple-Ptah.jpg|thumb|left|Artist's depiction of the western forecourt of the Great Temple of Ptah at Memphis]]

The ''Hout-ka-Ptah'',{{#tag:ref|<hiero>Q3:X1-V28-O6-X1:O1-D28-O49</hiero><br />''ḥw.t-k3-Ptḥ'' = Hout-ka-Ptah|group=Fnt|name=hierogtop}} dedicated to the worship of the creator god [[Ptah]], was the largest and most important temple in ancient Memphis. It was one of the most prominent structures in the city, occupying a large precinct within the city's centre. Enriched by centuries of veneration, the temple was one of the three foremost places of worship in Ancient Egypt, the others being the great temples of [[Ra]] in [[Heliopolis (Ancient Egypt)|Heliopolis]], and of [[Amun]] in Thebes.

Much of what is known today about the ancient temple comes from the writings of Herodotus, who visited the site at the time of the first Persian invasion, long after the fall of the New Kingdom. Herodotus claimed that the temple had been founded by [[Menes]], and that the core building of the complex was restricted to priests and kings.<ref>Herodotus, ''The Histories'' (Vol II), § 99.</ref> His account, however, gives no physical description of the complex. Archaeological work undertaken in the last century has gradually unearthed the temple's ruins, revealing a huge walled compound accessible by several monumental gates located along the southern, western, and eastern walls.

The remains of the great temple and its premises are displayed as an open-air museum near the great [[#Statues of Rameses II|colossus]] of Ramesses II, which originally marked the southern axis of the temple. Also in this sector is a large [[sphinx]] monolith, discovered in the nineteenth century. It dates from the [[Eighteenth dynasty of Egypt|Eighteenth Dynasty]], most likely having been carved during the reign of either [[Amenhotep II]] or [[Thutmose IV]]. It is one of the finest examples of this kind statuary still present on its original site. The outdoor museum houses numerous other statues, colossi, sphinxes, and architectural elements. However, the majority of the finds have been sold to major museums around the world. For the most part, these can be found on display in the [[Egyptian Museum]] in Cairo.

The specific appearance of the temple is unclear at present, and only that of the main access to the perimeter are known. Recent developments include the discovery of giant statues that adorned the gates or towers. Those that have been found date from the reign of Ramsses II. This king also built at least three shrines within the temple compound, where worship is associated with those deities to whom they were dedicated.