an ancient city of Egypt, the site of which is on the W. bank of the Nile, about 10 miles S. of Cairo. Its name, in Egyptian, was Men-nefr, signifying the "good abode," or, as some think, the "abode of the good one," or Osiris. In Hebrew it was called Moph or Noph. The sacred name was Phtah-es, "the abode of Phthah," or Vulcan, its chief god. The foundation of Memphis is ascribed to Menes, the first king of Egypt, who reigned about n.c. 2700. On the division of the kingdom not long afterwards, it became the capital of successive Memphite dynasties, which appear to have lasted, with one considerable break, through about a thousand years. Under the Fourth Dynasty, which was the second Memphite one, the most famous of the pyramids near the city were raised. During this long period it seems to have been the most important city of Egypt. When the whole country was united under one Theban sovereign (n.c. cir. 1525), Memphis became the capital of Lower Egypt, and probably had a larger population than the kingly residence, Thebes. Under the Lower Egyptian dynasties that ruled after the Theban line Memphis recovered much of its importance, and was virtually the chief town until the foundation of Alexandria. After this it was the native capital for some time, and second only to the new city. It was finally ruined by the foundation of El-Fustat, upon the opposite bank, by the Arab conquerors.

The most important edifices and monuments of Memphis were the temple of Phthah, the Serapeum, the burial-place of the bulls Apis, and the pyramids. The first of these was the chief temple of the place; and successive kings from the earliest times made additions to it. Its site is marked by but scanty remains, for it has been used as a quarry, like the other Memphite monuments, by the Mohammedan inhabitants of the successive Arab capitals. The ruins of the Serapeum, and the vast subterranean sepulchre of the bulls Apis in connection with it, have been lately discovered by M. Mariette. The pyramids, which were the tombs of kings, and apparently of other royal personages also, extend along the edge of the desert behind Memphis for several miles N. and S. Around them are the tombs of subjects. (For further information see the article EGYPT.)

(n.s.r.)

a town in the state of Tennessee, Shelby county, North America, pleasantly situated on the Mississippi, just below its confluence with the Wolf River, 420 miles below St Louis, and 209 miles W.S.W. of Nashville. The town is built on a bold promontory, 30 feet above the river; while below, a bed of sandstone running into the river forms a convenient landing-place. The town has a large esplanade in front, and many very handsome buildings, of which the chief are—six or seven churches, an academy, a medical college, two banks, &c. Memphis is a place of great trade and growing importance; while shipbuilding and manufactures of iron, cotton, and ropes, are also carried on. Pop.(1850) 8841; (1853) about 12,000.