The Temples
Memphis - Capital Cities
Hut-ka-ptah, Great Temple of Ptah
What: Home of the Soul of the God Ptah. The largest and principal Temple in Memphis throughout its time as a capital and afterwards. Considered as 1 of the 3 most significantly religious places in Ancient Egypt along with the Temple of Amun in Thebes and the Temple of Ra in Heliopolis
Where: City Centre of Ancient Memphis
Who: The Cult Centre for the God Ptah, along with his consort, the Goddess Sekhmet, and their son, the God Nefertem
Temple of Ptah of Pharaoh Rameses II, Beloved of Amun, God and Ruler of Heliopolis
What: Religious Temple with a Tower, ritualised Courtyard with columns and a pillared hall with its Sanctuary
Where: Southwest corner of Great Temple of Ptah, which open towards the east
Who: Dedicated to the deified Pharaoh Ramses II with the Gods Ptah, Horus and Amun
Temple of Hathor
What: A small Temple dedicated to the Goddess Hathor and has similar architectural features to some smaller Temple-Shrines in Karnak Temple
Where: Adjacent to the South Wall of the Great Temple of Ptah
When: Erected in the reign of Pharaoh Ramses II
Why: Thought to have been a Shrine rather than a full Temple, maybe to hold the Goddess’s Statue in times of major religious festivals when it was presumed to have travelled here from its more regal Temple in Memphis which is yet to be discovered
Temple of Ptah and Sekhmet of Pharaoh Rameses II
What: Religious Temple on a smaller scale that the Temples of Ptah of Ramses II
Where: Inside the Great Temple of Ptah, near to the Great Colossus of Ramses II
When: 19th Dynasty
Who: Dedicated to the deified Pharaoh Ramses II with the God Ptah and Goddess Sekhmet
Temple of Aten
What: Religious Temple for God Aten, the God of the Sun Disk
Where: Unknown at present
When: Thought to have been initiated by Pharaoh Amenhotep IV in the 18th Dynasty before he changed his name to Pharaoh Akhenaten
Who: Pharaoh Tutankhamun, when he was Crown Prince Tutankhaten was sent to study as a “Steward of the Temple of Aten in Memphis”
Temple of Ptah of Pharaoh Merenptah
What: A Temple with a large Courtyard which had an opening on the south via a large door
Where: Inside the Great Temple of Ptah in the Southeast; and was connected to a large ceremonial palace
When: 19th Dynasty, but was in ruins by the Late Period
Who: Used by all the Pharaohs of the New Kingdom Period
Temple of Apis, Manifestation of Ptah
What: Religious Temple with 2 Chambers; 1 for Apis and 1 for his mother. Herodotus confirmed that the Temple had a Peristyle columned Courtyard with large statues
Where: Yet to be found. Thought to be near the Great Temple of Ptah. We know this information from classical historians
When: Erected during the reign of Pharaoh Psamtik I of the 26th Dynasty
Who: The Bull was housed in the Temple and people watched his actions which could be interpreted. A window in the Temple Wall allowed people to view him to spread his virility
Temple of Amun
What: A Temple dedicated to the Theban Triad, under the name of the God Amun, his spouse Goddess Mut and their son, the God Khonsu
Where: South of the Great Temple of Ptah
When: Initiated by Pharaoh Neterkheperre during the 21st Dynasty
Temple of Goddess Sekhmet
What: All that is understood to date is that it was a small Temple which was primarily dedicated to the Goddess of the Memphite Triad along with the God Ptah and the God Nefertem
Where: Unknown at present but thought to have been within the Great Temple of Ptah
When: Thought to have been at least re-dedicated and added to during the rule of Pharaoh Ramses III
- The Temple to God Anubis during the Ptolemaic-Roman period
- The Temple to God Mithras in Northern Memphis during the Roman Period
- The Temple to Goddess Astarte, Phoenician Goddess of Fertility & Sex, Love & War, erected in the Phoenician Area of Memphis during the Greek Period
- The Temple of the Goddess Neith, found in the North of the Great Temple of Ptah
