Founded by Mena or Menes ,traditionally the first king of the first dynasty .
Memphis or Menufer became the capital of the country during thr old kingdom and probably during the 12 dynasty .
When the capital was moved to Thebes during the new kingdom Memphis remained an important city , as indeed it did even after the foundation of Alexandria as the capital by Alexander .
It was finally deserted during the early Muslim era .
Today little remains of the garden city of Memphis grouped round the vast temple of its patron god ptah, .
A small museum on the left of the road shelter a colossal limestone figure of Ramesses the second of excellent workmanship ,depicting the king when young , discovered by Caviglia and Sloane in 1820 .
It lies on its back and must have been originally about 12.8 high , the feet and the back much hindered by water .
The alabaster Sphinx inside the enclosure weighs 80 tons and was excavated by Petrie in 1912 .
It is either 18 or 19 Dyn., probably of Amenhotep the second , but it has also been greatly damaged by water ,
Other stone object and sarcophagi can also be seen .
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