Prayer Tents Bible References - Prayer Tents

MEMPHIS

A capital city of ancient Egypt during much of the Old Kingdom period, located ca. 20 km. (12.5 mi.) S of Cairo on the west side of the Nile near Mītrahīneh and Saqqâra; Egyp. mn-nfr (a name probably derived from that of the pyramid of Pharaoh Pepi I). Foundation of the city as “White Wall” (Egyp. jnb ḥḏ) ca. 3000 b.c.e. is traditionally attributed to Menes (cf. Herodotus Hist. 3.91). The modern designation of Egypt (from Gk. Aígyptos) derives from the name of the sacred area of Ptah’s temple in Memphis, “House of the Ka of Ptah.” The cult of Ptah-tatenen, the ancient creator-god, patron of artists (identified with Canaanite El and Kothar, Greek Hephaistos), was the principal cult of Memphis, in particular in the local form of “Ptah South of his Wall.” Foreign colonies and cults are attested in the trading center around the harbor (Perunefer) since the New Kingdom, including the cult of Baal Zaphon and Astarte.

The significance of Memphis as administrative center and royal residence of Egypt is reflected in the biblical prophets. Isa. 19:13 (Heb. mōp); Hos. 9:6 (mōp) may refer to the political situation in Israel and Egypt shortly before the fall of Samaria (the embassy to the king of So = Sais[?] ca. 727, 2 Kgs. 17:4; Pianchi’s [Piye’s] conquest of Memphis). Jer. 44:30; 46:14, 19; Ezek. 30:13, 16 may refer to Nebuchadnezzar’s campaigns against the Saitic rulers Necho II, Hophra (Apries), and Ahmose II (Amasis). Some of the Jews who fled the Babylonian assault on Judah established residence at Memphis (Jer. 44:1).

Little of the glorious past of Memphis remains, because it served in medieval times as a quarry for the construction of Fostat and Cairo. Still the site shows some impressive colossal statues of Rameses II, a stela of Hophra, and embalming tables of Nekau for the Apis-bull at the south entrance of the Ptah temple.

Meindert Dijkstra

Prayer Tents Bible References - Prayer Tents

MEMPHIS

Eerdmans Dictionary of the Bible (2000)