Geographical Background

Geographical Background

Geographical Background
Ancient Egypt stretches from the Mediterranean in the North to the First Cataracts at Aswan, though if different periods it also controlled all the territories from the First to the Sixth Cataract (North of Khartoum).

Lower Egypt

Lower Egypt covers the Delta area, which comes from the Greek, faces the Mediterranean, and is fed by two main branches of the Nile.
Because of the difference in climate and geographical locations, sites in the Delta area are not as well preserved as those in the South such as Thebes and Luxor.
Prior to the Unification of the Two Lands, there also existed Two Kingdoms, the Northern Kingdom (The Delta) was known as the Red Land
The capital of the Red Land was at Buto and consisted of two separate ares Pe and Dep. The Goddess associated with this area is a cobra Goddess called Edjo or Wadjet. Lower Egypt had the low red crown known as the "deshret" and its symbol was the papyrus plant.

Upper Egypt

Upper Egypt stretched down to the area of Elephantine, including modern Aswan and the first cataract.
The Southern Kingdom of Ancient Egypt was known as the White Land, with its captial at Nekhen, or more commonly known by its Greek name Hieraconpolis. Nekheb was the cult centre of a vulture Goddess Nekhbet.
The Crown of Upper Egypt was the tall white crown known as the "hedjet" and its symbol was the lotus flower.

Snippets

Pharaoh - Great House
The Pharaoh in Ancient Egyptian is Per-aa, which means Great House. Rulers were usually related by family ties, and changes in dynasties could have been brought about by changes in power between the great families of Ancient Egypt.