Heliopolis, or the City of the Sun, was a major religious and intellectual center in ancient Egypt, located in present-day Ain Shams, Cairo. It was devoted to the sun gods Ra and Atum and played a key role in astronomy, theology, and early monotheistic thought. Its influence extended to Greek and Roman culture, especially through its monumental obelisks and the Bennu bird myth. Though much of the city has faded, important relics like Senusret I’s obelisk and Psamtik I’s statue preserve its legacy as a cornerstone of Egypt’s spiritual and cultural history.
Heliopolis was one of the most sacred cities in the history of Egypt, which holds the power to showcase the ethereal and powerful force of the gods who provided the city with an unlimited supply of grace and beauty. The City of Two Tales has had a significant influence on the cultural and intellectual spectrum of Egypt for many ages. The heritage of the city of Heliopolis extends from the days of the Old Kingdom to the Hellenistic period.
The city of the sun had deep roots in the religious atmosphere of Egypt as it held the worship cult center for the gods of Ra and Atum, who were mainly connected to the sun. Heliopolis is a place of origin for many creatures and stories in the ancient Egyptian mythos. It was one of the biggest and most famous centers for theology and learning in the world, with priests transforming the city into a place dedicated to the study of ancient Egyptian astronomy and philosophy.
The art of this golden city has lived on as Greek and Roman cultures were influenced by the beauty and the hidden meaning behind its colossal obelisks that resembled the creation mound where the world was created and the bennu or phoenix was reborn from its ashe,s which would explain why it was called the city of pillars.
The ancient city of the sun, "Heliopolis," rests beneath the streets of middle- and lower-class suburbs in northern Cairo, specifically in Al-Matariyyah, Ain Shams, and Tel Al-Hisn, lying approximately 15-20 meters below the surface. It's situated about 1.5 kilometers to the west of the modern-day suburb that bears its name.
The name Heliopolis was derived from the Greek "Hēlioúpolis" which means "City of the Sun," It was a place where the Greeks associated their sun god "Helios" with the ancient Egyptian gods Ra and Atum. This city had its native name as "iwnw" meaning "The Pillars," although its precise pronunciation remains uncertain due to the limited consonantal information provided in ancient Egyptian records.
In Egyptology, it's typically transcribed as Iunu. Variations in transcriptions include Awnu and Annu, and the name has persisted in the Coptic language as ŌN. Furthermore, this city is mentioned in the Pyramid Texts as the "House of Ra."
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Heliopolis held significant regional importance dating back to predynastic times. It was primarily recognized as the center of worship for the sun god "Atum" who later became associated with Ra and Horus. The main temple in the city was titled the Great House or the Golden House of Atum, and was a place where priests revered Atum or Ra as the first original being who rose as a self-created celestial entity from the primordial waters of BEN-BEN.
While Ra's cult diminished in importance in Dynasty V, which led to the creation of the Ennead, which was headed by Ra and Atum. High priests of Ra during Dynasty VI have been located through excavations.
Pharaoh Akhenaten in the Amarna Period called for a form of religious revolution in the shape of henotheistic "Monotheistic" worship, which centered around Aten "the sacred solar disc". He constructed a magnificent Heliopolitan temple called the "Elevating Aten," some remnants of which can be witnessed today at the wall gates of medieval Cairo. Heliopolis also hosted the cult of the magnificent Mnevis bull, which is known to be another representation of the Sun, with its formal burial grounds located in the northern part of the city.
During the Hellenistic period, Alexander the Great made a stop in Heliopolis on his journey from the great city of Pelusium to the ancient capitals of Memphis. The Temple of Ra served as a repository for many important royal documents & records and was known for having the most knowledgeable priests in Egyptian history, according to Herodotus. Heliopolis thrived as a center of learning and theology during the Greek period, with philosophers like Orpheus, Homer, Plato, Pythagoras, Solon, and others reportedly attending its schools of astronomy and philosophy.
In 308 BC, the great scholar Ichonuphys was studying and lecturing there, and Eudoxus the Greek mathematician was taught by him about the correct length of both the year and month, which he used to develop his octaeterid. Ptolemy II tasked the chief priest of Heliopolis with compiling a history of Egypt's ancient kings from the city's archives. However, as Greek rulers favored the Serapis cult and Alexandria overshadowed Heliopolis in terms of learning, the city's importance declined, and it eventually became deserted by the first century BC, as observed and documented by Strabo.
In Roman times in Egypt, it was part of the Augustamnica province and was known as Heliopolis in Augustamnica to distinguish it from Roman Heliopolis. It was well-documented by ancient geographers, including Ptolemy, Herodotus, and others. The population likely had a significant Arabian presence. Various of the city's obelisks were transported to adorn cities in the Delta region and especially Rome, with two of them eventually becoming Cleopatra's Needle in London and its twin found in New York's Central Park.
During the Islamic Rule in the Middle Ages, the honorable cities of Fustat the city of tents and Cairo the city of minarets & wonder grew nearby as the dominant cities and the future capitals, Heliopolis's ruins were extensively scavenged and transported for the building and the construction of the many city walls that we can see today. The current location of the city has earned the names "Eye of the Sun" (Ain Shams) and "Arab al-Ḥiṣn".
Atum was the primordial god and the main deity of the city, along with the sun god Ra. Atum took on the appearance of an elderly man, signifying the setting sun. Heliopolis was home to numerous sanctuaries, each dedicated to the primary deities of the Egyptian pantheon, and some even honored lesser-known gods like Sepa, the centipede god responsible for the flooding. It's quite fascinating to observe how the passage of time has eroded much of this site's historical riches over the centuries.
Much like how people worshiped Atum and Ra, it's likely that the Bennu bird or the Phoenix held a special place in their hearts at the cult center in Heliopolis. This divine bird also made appearances on amulets shaped like scarab beetles that served as a symbol of rebirth. The grand sun god, revered in various forms such as Kephri, who symbolized the rising sun, and the hawk-headed Horakhty, who was a fusion of the midday sun with Horus of the Horizon, was a central figure in this worship.
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The area surrounding the Atum-Ra doesn't hold many grand ancient relics at the current moment, as most were taken away by the Greeks and the Romans, but archaeological excavations and new discoveries have uncovered tombs, particularly those of priests of Re. Near Senusrets monument, there's a small open-air museum, displaying a quartzite obelisk from Egypt's 6th Dynasty and the base of another obelisk dating to the 18th Dynasty.
Various objects like inscribed blocks and statues from different periods have been found in the area. To the north at Arab al-Tawil, there are the burial places of Mnevis bulls that have been excavated, though they are less grand than the Serapeeum, where Apis bulls were buried. To the south and east, numerous Saite period tombs have been uncovered. Inside the western section of the perimeter wall running alongside the Tawfiqiya canal, systematic excavations have revealed ruins of workshops, dwellings, and a temple complex that date back to the New Kingdom.
A number of amazing architectural elements have been discovered that include the temples of Ramesses II and Ramesses IV, as well as a significant granite column of King Meneptah. Although Heliopolis may not match the grandeur of sites like Karnak, ongoing work and advancements in technology may reveal more of its ancient history in the future. The site is gradually becoming a tourist destination as it is filled with marvelous statues and the "Tree of the Virgin" associated with the Virgin Mary's legend during her time in Egypt.
The fascinating legacy of Heliopolis, with its strong devotion to the sun, has left a profound impact on both ancient Egyptian traditions and modern monotheistic religions. In the realm of classical mythology, there was a belief that the bennu bird or as known in the western world as the phoenix, would transport the remains and ruins of its previous predecessor to the great sun god of Atum-Ra sacred altar in Heliopolis during each rebirth from its ashes. Heliopolis finds its presence in the Hebrew Bible as well, often associated with its significant pagan worship.
The prophet Isaiah prophesied that the "City of the Sun" would be among the Egyptian cities to turn towards the Lord of Heaven's forces. The prophets Ezekiel and Jeremiah made mention of the Temple or House of the Sun, foretelling that Nebuchadnezzar II of the empire of Neo-Babylonian would lay waste to its gigantic obelisks and set its temple ablaze, with its misguided young men meeting a tragic fate. The popular "Syrian Heliopolis" in Baalbek is believed to have embraced its grand solar cult from a tribe of priests who migrated from Egypt.
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In the present day, the city acts as onw of the most magical open air museum on the face of the earth as it is filled with some fragments of ancient great city walls, constructed from basic bricks which still endure in the vast open fields, and a small number of granite blocks inscribed with the name of Pharaoh Ramesses the great which have also stood the test of time.
The location of the magnificent Temple of Ra-Atum is recognized by the majestic obelisk of Al-Masalla. In 2004, archaeologists embarked on excavations of a number of its priceless tombs, and in 2017, they made an exciting discovery as they unearthed and explored parts of a gigantic statue that belonged to Pharaoh Psamtik I.
Heliopolis city has earned its names in the history fot its significant value that streached to thousands of years where it served as a center for worship, art, mytholoical legends, and theology which has inspired scholars, historicans, and travelers from all the world which a whole new domain filled with epic tales and treasures. Everyone will have the chance to enjoy the most enchanting Egypt vacation packages and the most magical Nile river cruises while exploring all the timeless cities of this shining civilization.
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The entire country of Egypt deserve to be explored with its every heavenly detail but there are places that must be seen before any other such as the breathtaking Hurghada's red sea, The wonders of Cairo the pyramids of Giza, the great sphinx, the Egyptian Museum, Khan El Khalili Bazaar, the wonders of Luxor like Valley of the Kings, Karnak & Hatshepsut temple and the wonders of Aswan such as Abu Simbel temples, Philea temple, Unfinished obelisk and The Wonders of Alexandria like Qaitbat Citadel, Pompey's Pillar and Alexandria Library. Read more about the best places to visit in Egypt.
If you want to apply for a Visa On Arrival that lasts for 30 days then you should be one of the eligible countries, have a valid passport with at least 6 months remaining and pay 25$ USD in cash, as for the E-Visa for 30 day you should have a valid passport for at least 8 months, complete the online application, pay the e-visa fee then print the e-visa to later be presented to the airport border guard. You could also be one of the lucky ones who can obtain a free visa for 90 days. Read more about Egypt travel visa.
Egypt has a variety of delicious cuisines but we recommend “Ful & Ta’meya (Fava Beans and Falafel)”, Mulukhiya, “Koshary”, a traditional Egyptian pasta dish, and Kebab & Kofta, the Egyptian traditional meat dish.
The best time to travel to Egypt is during the winter from September to April as the climate becomes a little tropical accompanied by a magical atmosphere of warm weather with a winter breeze. You will be notified in the week of your trip if the Climate is unsafe and if any changes have been made.
You should pack everything you could ever need in a small bag so you could move easily between your destinations.
We have been creating the finest vacations for more than 20 years around the most majestic destinations in Egypt. Our staff consists of the best operators, guides and drivers who dedicate all of their time & effort to make you have the perfect vacation. All of our tours are customized by Travel, Financial & Time consultants to fit your every possible need during your vacation. It doesn't go without saying that your safety and comfort are our main priority and all of our resources will be directed to provide the finest atmosphere until you return home.
You will feel safe in Egypt as the current atmosphere of the country is quite peaceful after the government took powerful measures like restructuring the entire tourist police to include all the important and tourist attractions in Egypt. Read more about is it safe to travel to Egypt.
Wear whatever feels right and comfortable. It is advised to wear something light and comfortable footwear like a closed-toe shoe to sustain the terrain of Egypt. Put on sun block during your time in Egypt in the summer to protect yourself from the sun.
The best activity is by far boarding a Nile Cruise between Luxor and Aswan or Vise Versa. Witness the beauty of Egypt from a hot balloon or a plane and try all the delicious Egyptian cuisines and drinks plus shopping in old Cairo. Explore the allure and wonders of the red sea in the magical city resorts of Egypt like Hurghada and many more by diving and snorkeling in the marine life or Hurghada. Behold the mesmerizing western desert by a safari trip under the heavenly Egyptian skies.
There are a lot of public holidays in Egypt too many to count either religious or nation, the most important festivals are the holy month of Ramadan which ends with Eid Al Fitr, Christmas and new years eve. Read more about festivals & publich holidays in Egypt.
Egypt is considered to be one of the most liberal Islamic countries but it has become a little bit conservative in the last couple of decades so it is advised to avoid showing your chest, shoulders or legs below the knees.
Arabic is the official language and Most Egyptians, who live in the cities, speak or understand English or at least some English words or phrases. Fewer Egyptians can speak French, Italian, Spanish, and German. Professional tour guides, who work in the tourism sector, are equipped to handle visitors who cannot speak Arabic and they will speak enough English and other languages to fulfill the needs of all our clients.
The fastest way is a car, of course, a taxi. If you are in Cairo ride a white taxi to move faster or you could board the fastest way of transportation in Egypt metro if the roads are in rush hour.
The temperature in Egypt ranges from 37c to 14 c. Summer in Egypt is somehow hot but sometimes it becomes cold at night and winter is cool and mild. The average of low temperatures vary from 9.5 °C in the wintertime to 23 °C in the summertime and the average high temperatures vary from 17 °C in the wintertime to 32 °C in the summertime. The temperature is moderate all along the coasts.
It is the home of everything a traveler might be looking for from amazing historical sites dating to more than 4000 years to enchanting city resorts & beaches. You will live the vacation you deserve as Egypt has everything you could possibly imagine.
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