Memphis
Emily Teeter on MemphisMemphis is located on the west bank of the Nile in northern Egypt, south of modern-day Cairo. It was founded by King Narmer during the First Dynasty as the capital of the recently united Upper and Lower Egypt and remained the capital of Egypt through the Old Kingdom. It later continued to be an important political and religious center.
The University of Pennsylvania Museum excavated in Memphis from 1915 to 1923 at the ceremonial palace of Merenptah and the surrounding urban area. It also excavated at the temple of Ptah in Memphis from 1955 to 1956. Objects from Memphis on exhibit are several depictions of deities in the forms of amulets (see cat. nos. 4, 5, 6, 9, 11a), a relief (see cat. no. 1), and statues (see cat. nos. 2, 7, 11b, 13). In addition, there are depictions of individuals (see cat. nos. 36, 46, 80), an inscribed stone jar (see cat. no. 70a), a lintel from a chapel (see cat. no. 49), and a doorjamb and window from the Merenptah palace (see cat. nos. 50a,b).