Remains of the enclosure of Ptah. Mit Rahina, Egypt

The enclosure of Ptah (probably the temple to the cult of Ramses II in 'the domain of Ptah'), chief deity of the Memphite region, was one of the largest temple complexes in Egypt, but little remains within it except an embalming house for the apis bull dating to the 26th dynasty, a toppled colossal statue of Ramses II, and the Alabaster Sphinx. "The modern village of Mit Rahina partially covers the ancient city of Memphis; it was the capital of Menes & most rulers of Old & Middle Kingdom to 18th dynasty; superseded by Heracleopolis & later Thebes; declined after Alexander's conquest." [The J. P. Getty Fund: Thesaurus of Geographical Names]. This photograph was taken when Eliot Elisofon was on assignment for American Institute of Architects, directing the Egyptian portion of the documentary on Ancient Egypt, March 1965 and September 1965.