Foundations of a Civilization
Dual Capitals
Egypt's power was balanced between Memphis in the north (the administrative hub) and Thebes in the south (the religious heart).
Read MoreCities of the Dead
Vast necropolises like Saqqara and the Theban West Bank were built as eternal cities for the spirits of pharaohs and nobles.
Read MoreDivine Cult Centers
Cities like Abydos and Heliopolis were devoted to specific gods, becoming national centers for pilgrimage and sacred ritual.
Read MoreRoyal Foundations
Purpose-built cities, such as Akhetaten (Amarna), were founded by royal decree to serve a specific political or religious agenda.
Read MoreThe Great Royal Capitals
The original capital of unified Egypt. For over 3,000 years, it was the kingdom's administrative and economic center, home to the cult of the creator god Ptah.
The mighty northern capital built by Ramesses II in the Delta. It served as a strategic military base for campaigns into Asia and a hub of international trade.
Became the capital during the Third Intermediate Period. Known as the "Thebes of the North," its royal tombs yielded spectacular treasures, including golden masks.
The lost capital of the 12th Dynasty, founded by Amenemhat I. Its location near the Faiyum oasis symbolized the reunification and prosperity of the Middle Kingdom.
The revolutionary city built by Akhenaten for his monotheistic cult of the sun-disk, Aten. Its unique art and architecture reflect a radical break from tradition.
The religious capital at the height of Egypt's power. As the center for the god Amun-Re, it boasts the vast temple complexes of Karnak and Luxor.
Royal Necropolises
The sprawling necropolis of Memphis, active for 3,000 years. It is home to the Step Pyramid of Djoser and countless tombs, pyramids, and temples.
The world's most iconic archaeological site. It contains the Great Pyramids of Khufu, Khafre, and Menkaure, guarded by the enigmatic Great Sphinx.
A crucial site in pyramid development, featuring Sneferu's Bent Pyramid and Red Pyramid—the first successful true pyramid ever built.
One of Egypt's most sacred sites. Initially a royal cemetery for the first pharaohs, it became the primary cult center of Osiris, god of the afterlife.
The secret royal cemetery for the New Kingdom pharaohs, including Tutankhamun. Its tombs were carved deep into the rock to protect them from robbers.
The vast burial grounds of Thebes, including the Valley of the Queens, Tombs of the Nobles, and the mortuary temples of rulers like Hatshepsut and Ramesses III.
The village of the workmen who built the royal tombs in the Valley of the Kings. It provides unique insights into the daily life, literacy, and justice system of commoners.
Major Cult and Temple Sites
The largest religious building ever constructed. For over 2,000 years, it was the main sanctuary of the Theban Triad with Amun-Re at its head.
Connected to Karnak by an avenue of sphinxes, this temple was the setting for the Opet Festival, a ritual to rejuvenate the pharaoh's divine kingship.
The ancient cult center of the sun god Ra. It was a center of learning and theology, though much of it now lies beneath modern Cairo.
Two massive rock-cut temples built by Ramesses II in Nubia. The Great Temple was designed so the inner sanctuary illuminates on two specific days a year.
Home to the best-preserved Ptolemaic temple in Egypt, dedicated to the falcon god Horus. Its reliefs detail the mythical conflict between Horus and Seth.
A unique double temple dedicated to two sets of gods: the crocodile god Sobek and the falcon god Haroeris. It served as a healing center.
A major cult center for the goddess Hathor. Its magnificent temple is famed for its astronomical ceilings and the celebrated Dendera Zodiac.
An island temple complex dedicated to the goddess Isis. It was one of the last bastions of ancient Egyptian religion, rescued from the rising waters of Lake Nasser.