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{{short description|Northernmost region of Egypt}}
[[File:Lower Egypt Nomes 01.png|thumb|Map of Lower Egypt]]
{{History of Egypt}}
{{Ancient Egypt dynasties sidebar}}
{{Location map+|Northern Egypt|caption=Map of Lower Egypt showing important sites that were occupied during the [[Protodynastic Period of Egypt]] (clickable map)| places={{Location map~|Northern Egypt|lat=29.844722|long=31.250833|position=left |label_size=75 |label=[[Memphis, Egypt|Memphis]]}}
}}
'''Lower Egypt''' ({{langx|ar|مصر السفلى}} ''{{transliteration|ar|Miṣr as-Suflā}}'') is the northernmost [[region]] of [[Egypt]], which consists of the fertile [[Nile Delta]] between [[Upper Egypt]] and the [[Mediterranean Sea]]. The [[Nile River]] split into seven branches of the delta in Lower Egypt. Lower Egypt was divided into [[Nome (Egypt)|nome]]s and began to advance as a civilization after 3600 BC.<ref name="Roebuck1" /> Today, it contains two major channels that flow through the delta of the Nile River – [[Mahmoudiyah Canal]] (ancient Agathos Daimon) and Muways Canal ({{Langx|ar|بحر موَيس}}, "waterway of Moses").

== Name ==
In [[Egyptian language|Ancient Egyptian]], Lower Egypt was known as ''mḥw'' which means "north".<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.trismegistos.org/place/2712|title=TM Places|website=www.trismegistos.org|access-date=2019-11-16}}</ref> Later on, during [[Classical antiquity|Antiquity]] and the [[Middle Ages]], [[Greeks in Egypt|Greeks]] and [[Roman Empire|Romans]] called it ''Κάτω Αἴγυπτος'' or ''Aegyptus Inferior'' both meaning "Lower Egypt", but [[Copts]] carried on using the old name related to the north – ''Tsakhet'' ({{Langx|cop|ⲧⲥⲁϧⲏⲧ}}) or ''Psanemhit'' ({{Langx|cop|ⲡⲥⲁⲛⲉⲙϩⲓⲧ}}) meaning the "Northern part". It was further divided into a number of regions or [[Nome (Egypt)|nomes]] ({{Langx|cop|ⲡⲧⲟϣ|translit=ptosh}}) – ''Niphaiat'' ({{Langx|cop|ⲛⲓⲫⲁⲓⲁⲧ|lit=Libyan (nome)}}, {{Langx|grc|Μαρεωτης}}) in the west, ''Tiarabia'' ({{Langx|cop|ϯⲁⲣⲁⲃⲓⲁ|lit=Arabia}}) in the east, ''Nimeshshoti'' ({{Langx|cop|ⲛⲓⲙⲉϣϣⲟϯ|lit=fields}}) in the north-east and ''[[Bashmur]]'' (Bashmuric {{Langx|cop|ⲡⲥⲁⲙⲏⲣ|lit=sand shore}}) in the north. [[Jean-François Champollion|Champollion]] adds another region in the middle of the Delta which he calls ''Petmour'' ({{Langx|cop|ⲡⲉⲧⲙⲟⲩⲣ|lit=the one which bounds, girds}})<ref>{{Cite book |last=Champollion |first=Jean-François |title=L'Égypte sous les pharaons, ou recherches sur la géographie, la religion, la langue, les écritures et l'histoire de l'Égypte avant l'invasion de Cambyse |publisher=Bure |year=1814 |location=Paris |pages=5}}</ref> based on {{Langx|grc|Πτιμυρις}} mentioned by [[Stephanus of Byzantium]], but it is unclear if this is a separate region or just a Greek rendering of the name Bashmur.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Schwartze, Moritz Gotthilf: Das alte Aegypten oder Sprache, Geschichte, Religion und Verfassung des alten Aegyptens: nach den altägyptischen Original-Schriften und den Mittheilungen der nichtägyptischen alten Schriftsteller (Band 2) (Leipzig, 1843) |url=https://digi.ub.uni-heidelberg.de/diglit/schwartze1843bd2/0113/image,info |access-date=2022-11-29 |website=digi.ub.uni-heidelberg.de}}</ref>

After the [[Muslim conquest of Egypt|Muslim conquest]], the middle part of the Delta was called al-Rif ({{Langx|ar|الريف}}) which means "countryside, rural area" and which is derived from [[Egyptian language|Ancient Egyptian]] <hiero>
r:Z1-pr*Z1:niwt
</hiero>''r-pr'', "temple", because the rural areas were administered by them.<ref>{{Cite web|title=ريف - Wiktionary|url=https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/%D8%B1%D9%8A%D9%81|access-date=2021-05-28|website=en.wiktionary.org|language=en}}</ref> The eastern part roughly comprising the ancient Tiarabia was called al-Hawf ({{Langx|ar|الهوف}}) meaning "edge, fringe".<ref>{{Cite web|last=Adel|first=Arsanious|title=Administrative Organization Of Egypt - Coptic Wiki|date=23 December 2019 |url=https://coptic-wiki.org/administrative-organization-of-egypt|access-date=2021-05-28|language=en-US}}</ref>

==Geography==

Today, there are two principal channels that the [[Nile]] takes through the [[river]] delta: one in the west at [[Rosetta|Rashid]] and one in the east at [[Damietta]].

The delta region is well watered, crisscrossed by [[Channel (geography)|channels]] and [[canal]]s.

Owing primarily to its proximity to the Mediterranean Sea, the climate in Lower Egypt is milder than that of [[Upper Egypt]], the southern portion of the country. Temperatures are less extreme and rainfall is more abundant in Lower Egypt.

==History==

{{Infobox country
| conventional_long_name = Lower Egypt
| common_name = Lower Egypt|
| era =
| government_type = [[Monarchy]]
| year_start =
| year_end =
| event_pre =
| date_pre =
| event_start =
| date_start =
| event_end =
| date_end =
| image_flag =
| image_coat = File:Red crown.svg
| symbol_type = [[Deshret]]
| image_map =
| image_map_caption =
| p1 = Prehistoric Egypt
| p2 =
| flag_p1 =
| flag_p2 =
| s1 = Early Dynastic Period (Egypt)
| flag_s1 =
| capital = [[Memphis, Egypt|Memphis]]
| national_motto =
| national_anthem =
| common_languages = [[Egyptian language|Ancient Egyptian]]
| religion = [[Ancient Egyptian religion]]
| currency =
| leader1 = Unknown (first)
| year_leader1 = Unknown
| leader2 = possibly [[Wash (pharaoh)|Wash]] (last)
| year_leader2 = c. 3150 BC
| title_leader = [[King]]
| today = [[Egypt]]
}}

It was divided into twenty districts called [[Nome (Egypt)|nome]]s, the first of which was at [[el-Lisht]]. Because Lower Egypt was mostly undeveloped [[scrubland]], filled with all types of plant life such as grasses and [[herbs]], the organization of the ''nomes'' underwent several changes.

The capital of Lower Egypt was [[Memphis, Egypt|Memphis]]. Its patron goddess was the goddess [[Wadjet]], depicted as a cobra. Lower Egypt was represented by the Red Crown ''[[Deshret]]'', and its symbols were the papyrus and the bee. After unification, the patron deities of both Lower Egypt and Upper Egypt were represented together as the ''[[Two Ladies]]'', Wadjet and [[Nekhbet]] (depicted as a vulture), to protect all of the ancient Egyptians.

By approximately 3600 BC, Neolithic Egyptian societies along the [[Nile River]] had based their culture on the raising of crops and the domestication of animals.<ref>Carl Roebuck, ''The World of Ancient Times'' (Charles Scribner's Sons Publishing: New York, 1966) p. 51.</ref> Shortly after 3600 BC, Egyptian society began to grow and advance rapidly toward refined civilization.<ref name=Roebuck1>Carl Roebuck, ''The World of Ancient Times'' (Charles Scribner's Sons: New York, 1966) p. 52-53.</ref> A new and distinctive pottery, which was related to the [[Syro-Palestinian archaeology#Ceramics analysis|pottery in the Southern Levant]], appeared during this time. Extensive use of copper became common during this time.<ref name=Roebuck1 /> The [[Mesopotamia]]n process of [[mudbrick|sun-dried bricks]], and architectural building principles—including the use of the arch and recessed walls for decorative effect—became popular during this time.<ref name=Roebuck1 />

Concurrent with these cultural advances, a process of unification of the societies and towns of the upper Nile River, or [[Upper Egypt]], occurred. At the same time, the societies of the [[Nile Delta]], or Lower Egypt also underwent a unification process.<ref name=Roebuck1 /> Warfare between Upper Egypt and Lower Egypt occurred often.<ref name=Roebuck1 /> During his reign in Upper Egypt, King [[Narmer]] defeated his enemies in the Delta and merged the kingdoms of Upper Egypt and Lower Egypt under his single rule.<ref>Carl Roebuck, ''The World of Ancient Times'' (Charles Scribner's Sons Publishers: New York, 1966), p. 53.</ref>

==List of kings of the Predynastic Period of Lower Egypt==

The [[Palermo stone]], a royal annal written in the mid Fifth Dynasty (c. 2490 BC – c. 2350 BC) records a number of kings reigning over Lower Egypt before [[Narmer]]. These are completely unattested outside these inscriptions:
{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Name
|-
| [[Hsekiu]]<ref name="breasted36"/>
|-
| [[Khayu]]<ref name="breasted36"/>
|-
| [[Tiu (pharaoh)|Tiu]]<ref name="breasted36">Breasted (1909) p.36</ref>
|-
| [[Thesh]]<ref name="breasted36"/>
|-
| [[Neheb]]<ref name="breasted36"/>
|-
| [[Wazner]]<ref name="breasted36"/>
|-
| [[Mekh]]<ref name="breasted36"/>
|-
| (destroyed)<ref name="breasted36"/>
|-
|}

In contrast, the following kings are attested through archeological finds from Sinai and Lower Egypt: [[Double Falcon]], [[Crocodile (pharaoh)|Crocodile]].

On the [[Narmer Palette]] commemorating the defeat of Lower Egypt and the unification of the two kingdoms, the male figure depicted being bluedgeoned by Narmer is given the name "[[Wash (pharaoh)|Wash]]". As it is uncertain whether the figure represents an actual person or is simply an allegorical representation, archaeological evidence for supporting "Wash" as the final king of Lower Egypt is tenuous.

==List of nomes==
{| class="wikitable"
! Number !! Egyptian Name !! Capital !! Modern name of capital site !! English Translation !! God
|-
| 1 || [[Inebu-hedj]] || Ineb Hedj / Men-nefer / Menfe ([[Memphis, Egypt|Memphis]]) || Mit Rahina || White Walls || [[Ptah]]
|-
| 2 || [[Khensu (nome)|Khensu]] || Khem ([[Letopolis]]) || Ausim || Cow's thigh || [[Horus]]
|-
| 3 || [[Ament (nome)|Imnt]] || Imu (Apis) || [[Yamu|Kom el-Hisn]] || West || [[Hathor]]
|-
| 4 || [[Sapi-Res|Zapi-Res]] || Ptkheka || [[Tanta]] || Southern shield || [[Sobek]], [[Isis]], [[Amun]]
|-
| 5 || [[Sap-Meh|Zapi-Meh]] || Zau ([[Sais, Egypt|Sais]]) || Sa el-Hagar || Northern shield || [[Neith]]
|-
| 6 || [[Khaset (nome)|Khaset]] || Khasu ([[Xois]]) || Sakha || Mountain bull || Amun-Ra
|-
| 7 || [[A-ment]] || (Hermopolis Parva, Metelis) || [[Damanhur]] || West harpoon || [[Hu (mythology)|Hu]]
|-
| 8 || [[A-bt]] || Tjeku / Per-Atum (Heroonpolis, [[Pithom]]) || [[Tell el-Maskhuta]] || East harpoon || [[Atum]]
|-
| 9 || [[Ati (nome)|Ati]] || Djed ([[Busiris (Lower Egypt)|Busiris]]) || Abu Sir Bara || [[Andjeti]] || [[Osiris]]
|-
| 10 || [[Ka-khem]] || Hut-hery-ib ([[Athribis]]) || [[Banha]] (Tell Atrib) || Black bull || Horus
|-
| 11 || [[Ka-heseb]] || Taremu ([[Leontopolis]]) || Tell el-Urydam || Heseb bull || Isis
|-
| 12 || [[Theb-ka]] || Tjebnutjer ([[Sebennytos]]) || Samanud || Calf and Cow || [[Onuris]]
|-
| 13 || [[Heq-At]] || [[Iunu]] ([[Heliopolis (Ancient Egypt)|Heliopolis]]) || Materiya (suburb of [[Cairo, Egypt|Cairo]]) || Prospering Sceptre || [[Ra]]
|-
| 14 || [[Khent-abt]] || [[Zarw|Tjaru]] (Sile, [[Tanis]]) || Tell Abu Sefa || Eastmost || Horus
|-
| 15 || [[Tehut]] || Ba'h / Weprehwy ([[Hermopolis (Lower Egypt)|Hermopolis Parva]]) || [[Baqliya]] || [[Ibis]] || [[Thoth]]
|-
| 16 || [[Kha (nome)|Kha]] || Djedet ([[Mendes]]) || Tell el-Rubˁ || Fish || [[Banebdjedet]], or [[Hatmehyt]]
|-
| 17 || [[Semabehdet]] || Semabehdet ([[Diospolis Inferior]]) || [[Tell el-Balamun]] || The throne || Amun-Ra
|-
| 18 || [[Am-Khent]] || Per-Bastet ([[Bubastis]]) || Tell Bastah (near [[Zagazig]]) || Prince of the South || [[Bastet]]
|-
| 19 || [[Am-Pehu]] || Dja'net (Leontopolis Tanis) || [[Tell Nebesha]] ''or'' [[Tanis|San el-Hagar]] || Prince of the North || [[Uatchet]]
|-
| 20 || [[Sopdu (nome)|Sopdu]] || Per-Sopdu || [[Saft el-Hinna]] || Plumed Falcon || [[Sopdet]]
|}

==See also==

*[[Upper Egypt]]
*[[Middle Egypt]]
*[[Upper and Lower Egypt]]
*[[Nome (Egypt)|Nomes of Egypt]]
*[[Geography of Egypt]]
*[[Ancient Egypt]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
{{commons category|Lower Egypt}}
{{Ancient Egypt topics}}
{{Regions of Africa}}

[[Category:Lower Egypt| ]]
[[Category:States and territories established in the 4th millennium BC]]
[[Category:States and territories disestablished in the 4th millennium BC]]
[[Category:Geography of ancient Egypt|*]]
[[Category:Nile Delta]]
[[Category:Regions of Egypt|.Lower Middle]]
[[Category:Historical regions]]

[[it:Geografia dell'antico Egitto#Basso Egitto]]

Lower Egypt - Revision history

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