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Memphis (Celebrated city of Egypt)

a celebrated city of Egypt, on the W. bank of the Nile, 10 miles S. of the modern city of Cairo. Herodotus ascribes the foundation of this place, the Moph of the Old Testament, to Menes, first king of Egypt; the dates have been assigned from 3892 B. C. to 2100 B. C.

Memphis was taken by the Persians under Cambyses 525 B. c., when many of its temples and palaces were destroyed.

Alexander III. (the Great), who wintered here 332 в. c., did it much injury by founding Alexandria. Memphis, made capital 272 B. c., was taken by Antiochus Epiphanes 171 B. c., and was visited and restored by Septimius Severus, in 202.

In the 7th century it passed under the dominion of the Arabs, and gradually fell into decay, Cairo being built from its MEMPHIS ruins. The Arabian traveler, Abd-allatif, visited it in the 12th century. The ruins were discovered and excavated by Mariette, between 1850 and 1854. The position of Memphis was such as to command the whole inland trade of Egypt, ascending or descending the Nile; it was the chief seat of learning and religion in Egypt. It ceased to be the metropolis of Egypt on the foundation of Alexandria, 332 B. c. It soon after fell into such obscurity and decay, that, till lately, even its site was disputed.