This is a list of known ancient Egyptian towns and cities.List of provinces ('nomes') of ancient Egypt. http://www.ucl.ac.uk/. Retrieved on 2016-03-05. The list is for sites intended for permanent settlement and does not include fortresses and other locations of intermittent habitation. a capital of ancient Egypt a capital of ancient Egypt and regional administrative centerThonis italicized name: only the Greek name is known
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-HisnImu, Apis Capital of its nomeRaqote (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 nomeZau (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 LibyansTjebnutjer (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, TamiathisDjedet (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 nomePer-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 DynastiesPer-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 NekhenWaset (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 nomeTjenu (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 nomeAkhetaten (Amarna) around 1346 BC 14th Aten (cult center) Tell el-Amarna Capital of Egypt during Akhenaten's reignKhemenu (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 nomeHenen-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 nomeItjtawy (Itjtawy)~1920 BC20th or 21stAmenemhat-itj-tawyolisCapital 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 () 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) 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 Nome List of cities and towns in Egypt
References