| Memphis, located around 30km from Cairo, was the capital of Egypt during the Old Kingdom. Memphis was most likely founded by Menes, the first king of the First Dynasty, and for centuries was the sole capital of Egypt until, at the beginning of the New Kingdom, it was joined by Thebes in the administrative and spiritual leadership of the country. Memphis is home to the second largest sphinx in Egypt, 8m long and weighs 8 tonnes and a colossal statue of Ramesses II, sculpted from a single block of calcareous stone and originally 14m high. |
