List of ancient Egyptian towns and cities
Map of ancient Egypt with town names in hieroglyphs Index of four charts of ancient Egyptian Cities Lower Egypt Upper Egypt part 1 Upper Egypt and part of Nubia Nubia This is a list of known ancient Egyptian towns and cities .[ 1]
a capital of ancient Egypt
a capital of ancient Egypt and regional administrative center
Thonis
Lower Egypt
Town
(popular name)
In hieroglyphs
Date founded
Nome
Patron deity
Modern name
Other name/s
Note
Men-nefer (Memphis )
earlier than 3150 BC
1st
Ptah (cult center)
Mit Rahina
Ineb-Hedj, Died-Sut, Ankh-Tawy, Menfe, Hut-ka-Ptah, Moph, Noph
Capital of Egypt during the Old Kingdom; capital of its nome
Khem (Letopolis )
probably during Old Kingdom
2nd
Khenty-irty
Ausim
Capital of its nome
Yamu (Apis )
probably during Old Kingdom
3rd
Hathor
Kom el-Hisn
Imu, Apis
Capital of its nome
Raqote (Alexandria )
331 BC
3rd
Serapis
Alexandria
Rhacotis, Rakotə, Eskendereyyah
Alexandria was the intellectual and cultural center of the ancient world for some time; capital of the Ptolemaic Kingdom
Khito (Rosetta )
3rd
Rashid
Bolbitine, Bolbitinum, Bolbitinon, Trashit, Rakhit, Rexi
Where Rosetta Stone was found
Ptkheka (Ptkheka)
4th
Neith
Tanta
Capital of its nome
Zau (Sais )
earlier than 3300 BC
5th
Neith (cult center)
Sa el-Hagar
Capital of 24th and 26th Dynasties; capital of its nome
Per-Wadjet (Buto )
earlier than 3250 BC
5th
Wadjet (cult center)
Tell al-Fara'in
Pe and Dep, Butus, Butosus
Where Predynastic Buto-culture was found
Khasut (Xois )
6th
Amun
Sakha
Xeos, Skhoo
Capital of its nome
Timinhor (Damanhur )
later than 1200 BC
7th
Damanhur
Hermopolis Mikra, Tel Ballamon
Capital of its nome
Piemro (Naucratis )
7th century BC
7th
Thoth
Kom Gieif
Ναύκρατις
First permanent Greek colony; major center for Greek Egyptian sea trade
Thonis (Heracleion )
12th century BC
7th
Amun
Ἡράκλειον
Egypt's main port during Late Period; sister city of Naucratis
Menouthis (Menouthis )
7th
Isis and Serapis
Sunk to the sea in 8th century AD; near Heracleion and Canopus
Pikuat (Canopus )
Earlier than 600 BC
7th
Osiris
Aboukir
Canobus, Kanobos, Kanopos, Schedia
Principal port in Egypt for Greek trade before the foundation of Alexandria
Per-Atum (Pithom )
Around 1900 BC
8th
Atum
Tell-el-Maskhuta
Tjeku, Heroöpolis, Heroonopolis
Capital of its nome
Djedu (Busiris )
A small village until 3200 BC
9th
Osiris
Abu Sir Bana
Per Usiri
Capital of its nome
Hut-hery-ib (Athribis )
10th
Repyt
Banha
Tell Atrib, Attrib, Medeenet Ashaysh
Capital of its nome
Taremu (Leontopolis )
11th
Bast and Sekhmet (cult center)
Kafr Al Muqdam
Leonto, Leontos, Tell el-Muqdam
One of the capitals during the 23rd Dynasty; capital of its nome during Ptolemaic Period
Šetennu (Pharbaetus )
earlier than 7th century BC
11th
Hormerty
Horbeit
Shednu, Sheten, Pharbaethus
Capital of its nome; one of the centers of the chiefs of the Meshwesh Libyans
Tjebnutjer (Sebennytos )
12th
Onuris
Samanud
Hometown of Manetho ; capital of the 30th Dynasty; capital of its nome
Pachnamu´nis (Pachnamunis )
12th
Principal town
Iunu (Heliopolis )
earlier than 3250 BC
13th
Ra (cult center)
Ayn Shams
Ôn, Āwen, Ὂν
Capital of its nome
Tjaru (Sile )
14th
Horus
Tel el-Habua
Zaru, Tharu, Djaru, Tjel, Sile, Edfu of Lower Egypt
Largest ancient Egyptian fortress town; place of exile for criminals; capital of its nome
Per-Amun (Pelusium )
Before 720 BC
14th
Amun
Tell el-Farama
Sena, Seyân, Sin, Pelousion, Paramoun, Peremoun, Peromi
Easternmost major Egyptian city; Battles of Pelusium
Weprehwy (Hermopolis Parva )
Before 2575 BC
15th
Tell al-Naqus
Capital of its nome
Tamiat (Damietta )
15th
Damietta
Damiata, Domyat, Ταμίαθις, Tamiathis
Djedet (Mendes )
earlier than 3250 BC
16th
Banebdjedet
Tell El-Ruba
Per-Banebdjedet, Anpet
Capital of the 29th Dynasty; capital of its nome
Semabehdet (Diospolis Inferior )
17th
Tel El Balamun
Capital of its nome
Per-Bast (Bubastis )
Earlier than 3150 BC
18th
Bastet (cult center)
Tell-Basta
Per-Bastet
An ivory tag found in Tomb U-J dating 3150 BC many think has the Per-Bastet signature; One of the capitals during the 22nd and 23rd Dynasties; capital of its nome
Djanet (Tanis )
late New Kingdom
19th
Amun
Tell Nebesha
Thebes of the North, Ṣān al-Ḥagar, Zoan
Capital of 21st and 22nd Dynasties; capital of its nome; important port for Asiatic trade; center of linen manufacture.
Hut-waret (Avaris )
during Middle Kingdom
19th
Set
Tell el-Dab'a
Auaris, Hawara, Athyria
Capital of 14th and 15th Dynasties
Per-Ramessu (Pi-Ramesses )
1274 BC
19th
Ramesses II
Qantir
Per-Rameses, Per Ramessu
Founded by Ramesses II; absorbed Avaris; capital of Egypt during Ramesses II 's reign
Per-Sopdu (Per-Sopdu )
20th
Amun
Saft el-Hinna
Soped, Pi-Sopt
Capital of its nome
Upper Egypt
Town
(popular name)
In hieroglyphs
Date founded
Nome
Patron deity
Modern name
Other name/s
Note
Abu (Elephantine )
earlier than 3000 BC
1st
Khnum (cult center)
Aswan
Yebu
Capital of its nome
Swenett (Aswan )
1st
Swenett
Aswan
Syene
Location of stone quarries for Syenite granite
Nubt (Kom Ombo )
earlier than 3000 BC
1st
Sobek (cult center)
Kom Ombo
Omboi, Ombos, Ambo, Ombi
Garrison throughout pharaonic history; arch-enemy of the city of Dendera
Behdet (Edfu )
earlier than 3000 BC
2nd
Horus (cult center)
Naga el-Goneima
Apollonopolis Magna, Apollinopolis Magna, Djeba, Utes-Hor
Capital of its nome
Nekheb (El Kab )
earlier than 3500 BC
3rd
Nekhbet (cult center)
El Kab
Eileithyiaspolis, Lucinae Civitas
Capital of its nome before Nekhen; surrounded by a massive mud brick wall
Nekhen (Hierakonpolis )
earlier than 3210 BC
3rd
Horus (cult center)
El Kab
Al-Kom Al-Aħmar
Capital of its nome after Nekheb; opposite Nekheb on the other side of the Nile
Ta-senet (Latopolis )
earlier than Middle Kingdom
3rd
Khnum
Esna
Iunyt, Polis Latton, Lato
Capital of its nome after Nekhen
Waset (Thebes )
earlier than 5000 BC
4th
Amun (cult center)
Luxor
Niwt-rst, Niwt-Imn, Nōʼ ʼĀmôn, No, Iunu-shema, Diospolis Magna, Ta-pe, Hundred-gated Thebes
Capital of Egypt during most of Middle Kingdom and New Kingdom; capital of its nome; foremost religious center
Per-Hathor (Aphroditopolis )
earlier than 3000 BC
4th
Hathor
Gebelein
Inerty, Pathyris, Naga el-Gherira
Iuny (Hermonthis )
4th
Montu (cult center)
Armant
Erment, Iunu-Montu
Capital of its nome during Cleopatra VII
Sumenu (Crocodilopolis )
earlier than Middle Kingdom
4th
Sobek (cult center)
el-Mahamid Qibly
Imiotru
Different from Shedet (also called Crocodilopolis)
Djerty (El-Tod )
during Old Kingdom
4th
Montu
El-Tod
Ḏrty, Touphion, Tuphium, Thouôt, Tuot
Madu (Medamud )
4th
Montu
Medamud
Nubt (Naqada )
earlier than 3500 BC
5th
Set (cult center)
Naqada
Ombos, South Town
Where the Pre-dynastic Naqada culture was found
Iushenshen (Iushenshen )
earlier than 3000 BC
5th
Khozam
Capital of its nome during Old Kingdom
Gesy (Qus )
5th
Horus
Qus
Gesa, Apollonopolis Parva, Apollinopolis Mikra, Apollonos minoris
A point of departure for expeditions to the Red Sea
Gebtu (Koptos )
Earlier than 3200 BC
5th
Min (cult center)
Qift
Kebto, Keft, Justinianopolis
Capital of its nome; commercial center for the Upper Egyptian Red Sea trade through Wadi Hammamat
Iunet (Dendera )
6th
Hathor (cult center)
Dendera
Tentyra, Tentyris, Nikentori, Nitentori
Capital of its nome
Seshesh (Hu )
earlier than 3100 BC
7th
Bat, then Hathor
Hu
Diospolis Parva, Diospolis Superior, Hut-Sekhem, Hiw
Capital of its nome
Abdju (Abydos )
earlier than 3000 BC
8th
Khentiamentiu, then Osiris (cult center) and Isis
al-Birba
Osiris
Capital of its nome
Tjenu (Thinis )
earlier than 4000 BC
8th
Anhur
This
Capital of the 1st and 2nd Dynasties; still unlocated
Ipu (Akhmim )
earlier than 3100 BC
9th
Min (cult center)
Akhmim
Apu, Khent-min, Khmin, Shmin, Khemmis, Chemmis, Panopolis
Capital of its nome
Hut-Repyt (Athribis )
9th
Repyt
Wannina
Triphieion, Tripheion
Distinct from Hut-hery-ib (Athribis)
Tjebu (Qau )
10th
Nemty (cult center)
Qaw el-Kebir
Djew-Qa, Antaeopolis
Capital of its nome
Shashotep (Hypselis )
11th
Khnum
Shutb
Apotheke
Capital of its nome
Per-Nemty (Hieracon )
12th
Nemty
al Atawla
Hierakon
Capital of its nome
Zawty (Asyut )
13th
Anubis (cult center), Wepwawet (cult center)
Asyut
Sauty, Syut, Syowt, Lycopolis, Lycon, Lyco
Capital of its nome
Qis (Cusae )
14th
Hathor
el-Qusiya
Kis, Kusai
Capital of its nome
Akhetaten (Amarna )
around 1346 BC
14th
Aten (cult center)
Tell el-Amarna
Capital of Egypt during Akhenaten 's reign
Khemenu (Hermopolis Magna )
15th
Thoth (cult center), Ogdoad
El Ashmunein
Hermopolis Megale, Hermupolis
Capital of its nome
Herwer (Herwer )
16th
Khnum and Heqet
Hur
Capital of its nome
Hebenu (Hebenu )
16th
Kom el Ahmar
Capital of its nome before Herwer
Per-Imen-mat-khent(j) (Akoris )
earlier than Old Kingdom
16th
Tihna el-Gebel
Mer-nefer(et), Dehenet
Saka (Cynopolis )
17th
Anubis (cult center)
El Kays
Hardai, Cynopolis Superior
Capital of its nome
Tayu-djayet (El Hiba )
18th
El Hiba
Teudjoi, Ankyronpolis
Capital of its nome
Per-Medjed (Oxyrhynchus )
19th
el-Bahnasa
Pemdje, Oxyrrhynkhoupolis
Capital of its nome
Henen-nesut (Herakleopolis Magna )
earlier than 3000 BC
20th
Heryshaf (cult center)
Ihnasiyyah al-Madinah
Nenj-neswt, Ehnasya, Hnas, Ahnas
Capital of the 9th and 10th Dynasties; capital of its nome
Itjtawy (Itjtawy )
~1920 BC
20th or 21st
Amenemhat-itj-tawyolis
Capital of the 12th and 13th Dynasties; still unlocated
Shedet (Crocodilopolis )
21st
Sobek (cult center)
Faiyum
Arsinoë, Fayoum, She-resy
Capital of its nome
Ta may Sobek neb Pay pa necer aa (Soknopaiou Nesos )
21st
Sobek (as Soknopaios)
Dimeh es-Seba (Arabic : ديمة السباع )
tȝ mȝy Sbk nb Pay pȝ nṯr ʿȝ
Tepihu (Aphroditopolis )
22nd
Hathor (cult center during Greek period)
Atfih
Petpeh
Capital of its nome
Nubia
Town
(popular name)
In hieroglyphs
Date founded
Nome
Patron deity
Modern name
Other name/s
Note
Chenem-Waset (Amara West )
During Seti I 's reign
none
Amara, Nubia
Per-Menmaatre, Per-Rameses-meri-Amun
Official residence of the representative of Kush
Iken (Mirgissa )
earlier than 4500 BC
none
Hathor
Fortress town; now submerged in Lake Nasser
Buhen (Buhen )
earlier than 3000 BC
none
Buhen
Largest fortress town in Nubia; housed a copper factory
Red Sea Coast
Town
(popular name)
In hieroglyphs
Date founded
Nome
Patron deity
Modern name
Other name/s
Note
Berenice (Berenice )
275 BC
none
Medinet-el Haras
Berenike, Berenice Troglodytica, Baranis
Founded by Ptolemy II ; named after his mother, Berenice I of Egypt
Tao (Leucus Limen [ 2]
earlier than New Kingdom
none
El Qoseir
Leucus Limen, Kosseir, Al Qusair, El Quseir, Qusseir, Qosseir
Important trading port during pharaonic times, where goods from Red Sea and beyond entered Egypt
See also
References
