Memphis (Mit Rahina)
City / RuinsEgypt
Ancient capital of Lower Egypt, founded c. 3100 BCE by Menes (Narmer) at the strategic Nile delta head. Memphis served as the principal royal residence and administrative center for most of the Old Kingdom and continued in use through the Late Period — the necropolis at Saqqara, the Giza Plateau, and Dahshur all served Memphis directly. The site today (Mit Rahina, 24 km south of Cairo) preserves the colossal limestone Statue of Ramses II (originally over 10 m tall, broken horizontally and now reclining), an Alabaster Sphinx, and the New Kingdom Temple of Ptah. Most of the city itself was disassembled in antiquity for stone to build medieval Cairo. UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Look Closer — this site carries open questions: stones heavier than the period's tools could lift; stones fitted without mortar, almost no gap.
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Walkthrough videos (2)
The Bent And Red Pyramids Of Dashur And Ancient Memphis In EgyptBrien Foerster
3000 years old — The BIGGEST GRANITE STATUE IN THE WORLD. How did they cut the stone? (Mr.mountainbeast — Ramses II colossus at Memphis)Mr.mountainbeast