nomes of Egypt - Lower Egypt

nomes of Egypt
Division of ancient Egypt into smaller administratory units – nomes,
was performed yet in the Old Kingdom and survived

 with minor changes up to invasion of Arabs in VII AD.
Generally one can assume existence of 42 provinces
of which 22 were in Upper
and 20 in Lower Egypt
During the Old and Middle Kingdoms a nom was managed

 by nomarkh or overseer of district
His rule, strengthened  by the pharaoh became rivalry to central rule.
Sometimes an increase in significance of a nome together

 with ambitions of the nomarch ruling it lead to downfall 

of the reign and its breakup into smaller provinces,

 usually fighting against each other. 

Especially during intermediate periods various nomarchs 

usurped their right to the crown. 

Some of them had given rise to strong dynasties

      that regained central rule in the country

1
White Wall 
(inb HD)
Men-Nefer, Ineb-Hedj
(Memphis, Mit Rahina)    
During long periods of Egyptian history this city was capital of the land.
Cult center of god Ptah
accompanying goddess Sakhmet
and their son – Nefertum
(Memphite Triad)
Necropolises of the city were found in Saqqara
cult center of ancient god Sokaris

2
Thigh (Foreleg)
(xpS)
Khem
(Letopolis, Kom Ausim)    
Capital of the nome.
Cult center of god Heru
(Khenty-Irtu)
worshipped in the form of sitting  ram
(in other cities – also bull or lion)
The city was also cult center
of Isis and Horus the Old

3
Occident
(imnty)
Taminhor
(Hermopolis Parva, Damanhur)    
Capital of the nome till IV century BC
Cult of Djehuty
(Thoth)
Imu
(Kom el-Hisn)    
Capital of the nome in Old Kingdom.
Between Kom Abu Billo and Naukratis.
Cult center of Hathor-Sekhmet
Rakote
(Alexandria)    
The city built in order of Alexander Macedonian
Capital of Ptolemaic Egypt.
The biggest center of culture
and science in eastern part of Mediterranean

4
Southern Shield
(nt rsw)
Djeka    
Cult center of Neith
Sapi-Res    
Cult center of Sobek, Isis and Amon

5
Northern Shield
(nt mHt)
Sa
(Sais, San el-Hagar)    
Capital of the nome
in the Late Period also capital of Egypt.
Greek trade center
Temple of goddess Neith
Per-Wadjet
(Buto, Tell el-Fara'in)    
The city was created from fusion of two others:
Pe and Dep.
Cult center of goddess Uto,
 later also Isis.
According to Herodotus in Persian times the famous oracle was here

6 
Hill Bull
(kA Dw)
Khaswu
(Xois, Sakha)    
Important cult center of Amon-Re
According to Manetho
– seat of dynasty XIV

7
Western Harpoon
(wa imnty)
Per Ha-Nereb
(Metelis, Damanhur)    
City from period of rule of Ramesses II
Cult center of Ha
(Naucratis)?    
Ionian colony and harbor
Important trade center since
Saitic period
also known for iron prodution.
The city was dedicated to Horus
who was presented as solar disc
with wings and two uraeus
 Also cult center of Neith
Amun and Thoth

8
Eastern Harpoon
Tjeku
(Per-Atum)
(Pithom, Tell el-Maskhuta)    
The city raised by Ramesses II
located at the canal joining Nile and Bitter Lakes. Capital of nome and cult center of Atum According to Bible Israelites were imprisoned here – the Land of Goshen

9 
Anedjty
(anDty)
Per-Wesiri
(Djedu)
(Busiris, Taposiris Magna, Abusir Bana)    
Primarily cult center of Osiris Andedjty
later also of Isis.
 Necropolis of animals
From here comes famous pillar Djed
symbolizing trunk of cut down tree

10
Black Bull
(kA km)
Hut-Herib
(Athribis, Tell Athrib, Benha)    
Cult center of Horus and crocodile
Khenty-Khety (Heru)
and black bull Kemur.
Temple raised by Ahmose
The city gained big economical significance in Roman Period

11
Hesbe Bull
(kA Hsb)
Taremu
(Leontopolis, Tell el-Mokdam)    
Capital of nome in Ptolemaic Period.
Cult center of Horus, worshipped as lion Mahes.
Nai-Ta-Hut
(Leontopolis, Tell el-Jahudiya)    
Cult center of a couple of ancient gods Shu
(air) and Tefnet (moisture)
presented as lions
Hesbe
(Farbajthos, Horbejt)

12
Veal and Cow
(kA iw)
Tjeb-Neter
(Sebennythos, Samanud)    
Home city of Manetho.
Temple of Onuris.
Cult of Isis
 Capital of Egypt under dynasty XXX

13
Strong King
(HqAt-aD)
Yunu
(On)
(Heliopolis, el-Matariya)    
Solar city
cult center of
Re-Horakhte
bull Mnevis
Atum-Re.
Politically and religiously one of most significant centers in the land.
Place where legendary stone Benben was found.

14
Eastern Standard
(xnt-iAbt)
(Pelusium, Tell Farama)    
City located at Pelusian river arm Stopover place for Egyptian army before Asiatic campaigns. Presumably nome’s capital.
Senu
(Sile, Tell Abu Safa)  

15
Ibis
(DHwty)
Bahu
(Hermopolis, Tell Baklija, Aszmunein)    
Cult center of Thot
(Hermes Trismegistos)
with numerous graveyards for ibises

16
Jumping Fish
(HAt-mHyt)
Per-Banebdjedet
(Mendes, Tema el-Amdid)    
Capital of nome and cult center
of Osiris and Banebdjedet
(ram god)
rams cemetery
Capital of Egypt under dynasty XXIX
Anpet-Djedet
(Tmuis)    
Capital nome and important economical center in Roman period.

17
Trone
(bHdt)
Behdet
(Sam-Behutkhet, Pa-khen-em-Amon, Hu) (Diospolis Parva, Tell el-Balamun)    
Cult center of Horus
(Horus of Behet)
and Amon-Re

18
Royal Children Superior
(nn-xnt)
Per-Bastet
(Bubastis, Tell Basta)    
Cult center of goddess Bastet
 with necropolis of cats.
The city was seat of Libyan dynasty XXII
and at that time also capital of Egypt

19 
Royal Children Inferior
(nn-pH)
Imet
(Tell Nabasha)    
Center cult of Wadjet
Djanet, Hut-Waret, 
(Tanis, Awaris, San el-Hagar)    
Capital of Egypt
under dynasty XXI and Libyan dynasty XXII.
Important trade harbor with Asia.
Center of linen.
Pi-Rames (Qantir)    
Pi-Ramesses was raised by
Seti I and Ramesses II
and designed as administrative center of the land.
20
Sopdu
(spd)
Per-Sopdu
(Soped, Saft el-Henna, )    
Cult center of god Sopdu
and accompanying him goddesses
Khensit and Shesemtet
Fakussa (Faqus)