Ancient site · Giza
Temple of Ptah
The great temple of the god Ptah at Memphis, ancient Egypt's capital, beside the village of Mit Rahina south of Giza.
The story
The great temple Hut-ka-Ptah was among the most prominent buildings of Memphis, the ancient capital of Egypt in the Early Dynastic Period and the Old Kingdom. The city was believed to be under the protection of the god Ptah, patron of craftsmen. The temple's name, rendered in Greek by the historian Manetho, is believed to be the origin of the name "Egypt". The ruins of Memphis lie near the village of Mit Rahina in Giza Governorate, within a World Heritage Site, and are open to visitors as an open-air museum.
Good to know
- Ptah was the patron of craftsmen and protector of Memphis.
- The temple's name Hut-ka-Ptah is believed to be the origin of the modern name "Egypt".