Editing Memphis, Egypt (section)

===[[Early Dynastic Period (Egypt)|Early Dynastic Period]] and [[Old Kingdom of Egypt|Old Kingdom]]===
Little is known about the city of the [[Old Kingdom]] and before. It was the state capital of the powerful kings, who reigned from Memphis from the date of the [[First Dynasty of Egypt|First Dynasty]]. According to Manetho, during the earliest years of the reign of Menes, the seat of power was farther to the south, at [[Thinis]]. According to Manetho, ancient sources suggest the "white walls" (Ineb-hedj) or "fortress of the white wall" were founded by Menes. It is likely that the king established himself there to better control the new union between the two kingdoms that formerly were rivals. The [[Pyramid of Djoser|complex of Djoser]] of the [[Third Dynasty of Egypt|Third Dynasty]], located in the ancient necropolis at [[Saqqara]], would then be the royal funerary chamber, housing all the elements necessary to royalty: temples, shrines, ceremonial courts, palaces, and barracks.

The [[golden age]] began with the [[Fourth Dynasty of Egypt|Fourth Dynasty]], which seems to have furthered the primary role of Memphis as a royal residence where rulers received the [[Pschent|double crown]], the divine manifestation of the unification of the Two Lands. [[Coronation of the pharaoh|Coronations]] and jubilees such as the [[Sed festival]] were celebrated in the temple of Ptah. The earliest signs of such ceremonies were found in the chambers of [[Djoser]].

During this period, the clergy of the [[temple of Ptah (Memphis)|temple of Ptah]] came into being. The importance of the temple is attested with payments of food and other goods necessary for the funerary rites of royal and noble dignitaries.<ref>Breasted, ''Ancient Records of Egypt'', pp. 109–110.</ref> This temple also is cited in the annals preserved on the [[Palermo Stone]], and beginning from the reign of [[Menkaura]], we know the names of the [[High Priest of Ptah|high priests]] of Memphis who seem to have worked in pairs, at least until the reign of [[Teti]].

The architecture of this period was similar to that seen at [[Giza Necropolis|Giza royal necropolis]] of the Fourth Dynasty, where recent excavations have revealed that the essential focus of the kingdom at that time centred on the construction of the royal tombs. A strong suggestion of this notion is the etymology of the name of the city itself, which matched that of the [[pyramid of Pepi I]] of the [[Sixth Dynasty of Egypt|Sixth Dynasty]]. Memphis was then the heir to a long artistic and architectural practice, constantly encouraged by the monuments of preceding reigns.

[[File:II. Ramses Heykeli, Memfis.jpg|thumb|Sculpture from the Middle Kingdom restored in the name of Ramesses II]]

All these [[List of necropoleis|necropoleis]] were surrounded by camps inhabited by craftsmen and labourers, dedicated exclusively to the construction of royal tombs. Spread over several kilometres stretching in all directions, Memphis formed a true [[Megalopolis (city type)|megalopolis]], with temples connected by sacred [[temenos]], and ports connected by roadways and canals.<ref>Goyon, ''Les ports des Pyramides et le Grand Canal de Memphis'', pp. 137–153.</ref> The perimeter of the city thus gradually extended into a vast [[urban sprawl]]. Its centre remained around the temple complex of Ptah.