List of ancient Egyptian towns and cities

Map of ancient Egypt with town names in hieroglyphs

Index of four charts of ancient Egyptian Cities

Lower Egypt

Upper Egypt part 1

Upper Egypt and part of Nubia

Nubia

This is a list of known ancient Egyptian towns and cities.^[1] 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 center

Thonis 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-Hisn	Imu, Apis	Capital of its nome
Raqote (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 nome
Zau (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 Libyans
Tjebnutjer (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, Tamiathis
Djedet (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 nome
Per-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 Dynasties
Per-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 Nekhen
Waset (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 nome
Tjenu (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 nome
Akhetaten (Amarna)		around 1346 BC	14th	Aten (cult center)	Tell el-Amarna		Capital of Egypt during Akhenaten's reign
Khemenu (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 nome
Henen-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 nome
Itjtawy (Itjtawy)		~1920 BC	20th or 21st			Amenemhat-itj-tawyolis	Capital 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 (Arabic: ديمة السباع)	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)[2]		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

References

1. List of provinces ('nomes') of ancient Egypt. http://www.ucl.ac.uk/. Retrieved on 2016-03-05.
2. "A tale of an ancient Red Sea city, Quseir - Walks - Heritage". Ahram Online. Retrieved 2022-10-31.