Memphis Ancient Egypt: Complete Visitor Guide
The first capital of ancient Egypt — ruins of the city that once ruled the ancient world
About Memphis Ancient Egypt
Memphis was the first capital of unified ancient Egypt, founded around 3100 BCE by the pharaoh Narmer (Menes) who first united Upper and Lower Egypt. For 1,000 years it was the most important city in the ancient world — the political, religious, and cultural heart of the Egyptian empire — with a population estimated at over 30,000 at its peak, making it one of the largest cities on Earth in antiquity.
Today, Memphis is an open-air archaeological museum and garden in the modern village of Mit Rahina, 30 km south of Cairo. Most of ancient Memphis lies buried beneath the village and agricultural land, but the outdoor museum preserves impressive ruins including a massive fallen colossal statue of Ramesses II (one of the finest examples of Egyptian royal sculpture), a sphinx of alabaster, and the sacred Apis bull embalming house. Memphis is almost always visited in combination with Saqqara (just 15 minutes away), together forming one of Egypt’s best half-day excursions.
What to See & Experience
Colossus of Ramesses II
An enormous fallen limestone statue of Ramesses the Great — over 10 metres long — displayed horizontally in the museum pavilion. One of the finest examples of ancient Egyptian royal sculpture.
Alabaster Sphinx
An impressive 8-metre alabaster sphinx dating to the New Kingdom — the third largest sphinx in Egypt, beautifully preserved and displayed in the open garden.
Apis Bull Embalming House
The sacred hall where the divine Apis bulls were mummified before being transported to the Serapeum at Saqqara — remarkable travertine embalming tables survive in situ.
Practical Tips
Getting There
50–60 min. Always visited as part of a Saqqara + Memphis combo tour.
From Saqqara to Memphis is 15 min by taxi — easy to combine as a round trip.
Most tours combine Saqqara + Memphis together. The most efficient option.