The Pyramids and the Sun

Next | Cairo

Long before the pyramids were built, Egypt's northern and southern territories were ruled separately. It was about 5000 years ago that a young prince by the name of Narmer (Menes) unified the Red (North) and White (South) kingdoms to become Egypt's first Pharaoh. As brilliant a politician as he was a warrior, Narmer chose the site of Memphis as his capital. The city was situated at the then Nile Delta tip, along the North-South border, and about 25 km south of today's downtown Cairo.

For the next 800 years or so, the first Capital of the Pharaohs prospered under the rule of Zoser, Khufu (Cheops), Khafre (Chephren), Menkaure (Mycerinus), Unas, and others. She became the most influential and powerful city in the world, and housed the always and forever World Wonder, the Great Pyramid of Giza. Constructed on the Giza plateau, a necropolis of the city of Memphis on the Nile's west bank, the three Great Pyramids are the ultimate manifestation of political stability and power of the Ruler during the Third and Fourth Dynasties.

It wasn't until the Fifth Dynasty began (ca. 2500 BC) that the absolute power of the Pyramid-building Pharaoh declined, only to be replaced by that of the Sun-God, Ra. The rule of Giza gave way to the authority of another city, now on the east bank, Heliopolis. Heliopolis, now known as "Matareya", (not to be confused with the modern suburb of Heliopolis) was probably home of the first Ancient Egyptian priests. It was here that one the most ancient, and well-documented, proof of religious authority existed. From that moment in history, the power of the Egyptian priests would not yield for more than two thousand years. It was also here that one of the first science and learning centers in the world existed, a center in which engineers, physicians, accountants, practiced and taught, even though they were all identified as priests.

Slowly, but steadily, the ultimate power of Heliopolis was transferred to a new city, further south: Thebes. In the Sixteenth Century BC, King Ahmosis assumed full power over Egypt after expelling the Hyksos. His reign marked the beginning of the New Kingdom which later produced Thutmosis III, Akhenaten, Tut-Ankh-Amen, and Ramesses II. Ahmosis, a native of the South, moved his Capital to Thebes, now known as Luxor. Although the political strength of Heliopolis then declined, her religious power did not.

The final chapter in the history of ancient Heliopolis came in 525 BC, when the Persians invaded Egypt. They destroyed Heliopolis which, to them, signified the religious power of the Pharaohs. Today, little can be found at the site of Ancient Heliopolis. The most notable monument remaining is a single standing obelisk erected at the temple by King Sesostris I. Four other obelisks which long ago stood at the site are now in Istanbul, London, New York, and Paris, attesting the legacy of a once glamorous city. As the sun set on Heliopolis a new town emerged, closer to the Nile on its east bank: Babylon-in-Egypt.