Map of ancient Egypt: Lower Egypt

This map of ancient Egypt covers Lower Egypt. Lower Egypt was the northern-most section of ancient Egypt stretching from just south of modern-day Cairo to the Nile Delta at Alexandria. The labelling of "upper" and "lower" seems counterintuitive. Lower Egypt is in the north because it is further from the source of the river Nile (which flows into the Mediterranean). Lower Egypt´s landscape is dominated by the Nile delta, a fertile marshy area scored by tributaries and canals. The climate is milder and there is more rainfall in this area than in Upper Egypt. Lower Egypt was always the more industrialised, partly because it benefited from trade links with the middle east, the Mediterranean and northern Africa.

Lower Egypt was known as Ta-Mehu and was (like Upper Egypt) divided into areas called Nomes There were up to twenty nomes, although they varied more in number and as the environment changed over time. The patron goddess of the Ancient Lower Egypt is Wadjet. As a result the cobra could also represent Lower Egypt. This goddess was referenced with Nekhbet (of Upper Egypt) in the Pharaoh's 'Nebty' name (also known as the 'two ladies'). However, Lower Egypt was also associated with Bast, Ptah, Nephthys, Neith and Horus in mythology and art. The heraldic plant was the papyrus, but Lower Egypt was also represented by a bee, as in the Pharaoh´s Prenomen which begins with the epithet "he of the sedge and bee" (meaning he of Upper and Lower Egypt). The Pharaoh (and a few of the gods) wore the Red Crown ("deshret") to display their power over Lower Egypt. The crown was combined with the White Crown of Upper Egypt to form the Double Crown ("pschent").

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20

1: White fortress (White Wall)

Gods
Ptah, Sekhmet, Nefertem, Sokar, Hathor, Renpet and the Apis

Cities
Inebhedj/Mennefer (Memphis, Mit Rahina), temples of Ptah and Hathor

White Chapel
Represented by Horus before Inebhedj

2: Khensu (foreleg)

Gods
Horus, Kherty, Khentykhem

Cities
Khem (Letopolis, Ausim), temple of Horus-KhentyKhem

White Chapel
Represented by Khentykhem

3: Ament (West)

Gods
Hathor

Cities
Imu (Kom el-Hisn), temple of Hathor -Sekhmet

White Chapel
Represented by Hepy of Hut-Ihyt

4: Sap-res (The southern shield)

Gods
Neith, Sobek

Cities
unexcavated

White Chapel
Represented by Neith and Sobek ("of Sais")

5: Sap-meh (The northern shield)

Gods
Neith, Sobek, Wadjet

Cities
Sau (Sais, Sa al-Hagar), temple of Neith
Per-wadjet (Buto), cult centre of Wadjet

White Chapel
Represented by (Neith and Sobek) Sau ('of Sais')

6: Kaset (Mountain Bull)

Gods
Ra Wadjet

Cities
Khasu (Xois, Sakha), temple of Ra
Pe and Dep/ Per Wadjet (Buto, Tell el-Farain; see above), temple of Wadjet

White Chapel
unclear

7: West harpoon

Gods
Hu

Cities
unexcavated

White Chapel
Represented by a harpoon and a cord

8: East harpoon

Gods
Atum

Cities
Peratum (Pithom, Tell al-Maskhuta), temple of Atum

White Chapel
Represented by a harpoon and a cord

9: Andjet

Gods
Osiris, Andjety

Cities
Djedu (Busiris, Abu Sir Bana), temple of Horus-Khentkhety (Khentykhety)

White Chapel
Represented by Osiris of Djedu

10: Ka-qem or Kem-wer (the Black Bull)

Gods
Horus

Cities
Hutherib (Athribis, Tell Atrib), temple of Osiris, and Isis

White Chapel
unclear

11: Ka-henseb (Heseb Bull)

Gods
Tefnut, Shu, Maahes (Mihos)

Cities
Taremu (Leontopolis, Tell al-Moqdam), temple of Maahes (Mihos)

White Chapel
Represented by Bau

12: Theb-ka (calf and cow)

Gods
Anhur (Onuris)

Cities
Tjebennetjer (Sebennytus, Samanud), temple of Anhur - Shu and Mehyt
Perhebyt (Behbeit), temple of Isis of Hebyt

White Chapel
Represented by Matyt or Bat

13: Heq-at (prospering or undamaged sceptre)

Gods
Atum, Nephthys, Iusaas, the Mnevis Bull, Hesat, Anubis

Cities
Iunu (Heliopolis, Matariya), temple of Ra-Atum, Hathor
Kheraha (possibly the Greek 'Babylon of Egypt' in Old Cairo), temple of Atum

White Chapel
Represented by Isis, Bast of Su

Map of ancient Egypt: Lower Egypt

1: White fortress (White Wall)

2: Khensu (foreleg)

3: Ament (West)

4: Sap-res (The southern shield)

5: Sap-meh (The northern shield)

6: Kaset (Mountain Bull)

7: West harpoon

8: East harpoon

9: Andjet

10: Ka-qem or Kem-wer (the Black Bull)

11: Ka-henseb (Heseb Bull)

12: Theb-ka (calf and cow)

13: Heq-at (prospering or undamaged sceptre)

14: Khenty-ab (foremost of the east)

15: Tehut (Ibis)

16: Kha

17: Semabehdet (the throne, Behdet)

18: Am-Khent (Prince of the south)

19: Am-Pehu (Prince of the north)

20: Sopdu (plumed falcon)

Map of ancient Egypt: Upper Egypt