answersLogoWhite

0


Best Answer

In 3150 BC, Menes (King Narmer) united Upper Egypt and Lower Egypt and established Memphis as the capital of the kingdom. This was during the so-called "Old Kingdom". During the so-called "Middle Kingdom" the capital was moved from Memphis to Thebes (especially the 18th Dynasty).

The capital changed depending on which Pharaonic family was ruling, and on the extent to which Upper, Lower or Middle Egypt were united with one another. Thebes and Memphis were capitals of Upper (South) and Lower (North) Egypt respectively.

According to revised chronology, Memphis was not founded until circa 2200 BC at the earliest. Menes was the founder as far as we can tell. The proper Egyptian name should be "Memphit". The 's' ending comes from the Greeks' reading of the hieroglyphs (e.g., by Herodotus and perhaps Alexander's historians). Early 19th century Egyptologists tended to read the hieroglyphs in wrong or different sequences. So we are stuck with Memphis/t today. To avoid unnecessary confusion, there is a convention to leave names uncorrected when change is really necessary in the light of new or better information. Actually, "Memphit" should read "Phit-mem". This is the "Pithom" that Exodus 1:11 records. This is a sort of '9/11' for 21st century Egyptologists because it reveals that the ancient Israelites helped build the city. That would have been circa 1500 BC. It's likely an older city was expanded and modernised in 1500 BC. However, in 600 BC, when the Ramessides were actually ruling Egypt, and Memphis-Memphit-Pithom once again became the nation's capital, the city was re-developed once again, but for the last time. This time, ancient Egyptians of the 7th century BC called Memphis-Pithom the "City of Ramesses". Earlier, from circa 800 BC, foreigners such as Ethiopians, Libyans (Carthaginians), Assyrians, Chaldeans (Kurds) and Persians had control of the city apart from about 680 to 550 BC when the Ramessides, probably as vassals to the Assyrians and Chaldeans, held the city.

The meaning of "Memphit" or "Pithom" is "The Place (pi) of the "T-H-M". The "T-H-M" is another inaccurate arrangement of the hieroglyphs. Actually it represents the phrase "em-Hat" or "chosen (appointed) leader". One of the kings of the reconstruction era (actually 12th dynasty), when the Israelites provided bricks for the building programme, was Amen-em-hat or The leader chosen by Amen ('God'). Amenemhat III, who ruled for 43 years if the king lists are accurate on this, presided over most of the 16th century BC building programme. His successor, Amenemhat IV was probably the pharaoh whose army got destroyed at the Red Sea.

User Avatar

Wiki User

11y ago
This answer is:
User Avatar
More answers
User Avatar

Wiki User

6y ago

Thebes became the capital of the Middle Kingdom (2055-1650 BC).

This answer is:
User Avatar

User Avatar

Wiki User

15y ago

Phiana.

This answer is:
User Avatar

User Avatar

Wiki User

10y ago

Memphis

This answer is:
User Avatar

Add your answer:

Earn +20 pts
Q: What city became the capital of the middle Kingdom in egypt?
Write your answer...
Submit
Still have questions?
magnify glass
imp
Related questions

What city became the capital of Egypt in the middle kingdom?

leominsterthe capital of the Middle Kingdom was Thebes


Where was the capital of Egypt in the middle kingdom?

The middle kingdom's capital was Thebes


capital city of Egypt during the middle kingdom was?

The capital city of Egypt during the middle kingdom was Thebes.


What was the capital of the middle kingdom in Egypt?

Thebs


What city was the the capital of Middle kingdom and New Kingdom Egypt?

Phiana.


Which city is the capital if Egypt?

Egypt was originally divided into two parts, lower and upper Egypt, lower being the northern part near the Mediterranean Sea.Before Menes married the princess of Lower Egypt, the capital of upper Egypt was Heirrakonpolh and for lower Egypt was Heliopolis. After he unified the kingdoms, the capital of Egypt became Memphis.


What is the Middle Kingdom's nickname in Ancient Egypt?

It became known as Egypt's Golden Age.


When was Joseph the visier in Egypt?

he became visier during the Middle Kingdom


What is middle kingdom?

the best way to describe middle kingdom of Egypt is that this was the time when Egypt became reunited


What was the capital city of the old kingdom of Egypt?

Memphis was the capital of old kingdom Egypt.


How would you describe the general atmosphere of the Middle Kingdom?

The time Egypt became united from lower Egypt and Upper Egypt to Egypt.


What was great city of ancient Egypt when it became capital during the new kingdom?

Luxor.