Ancient Egypt Sepat (Nomes)
The Nomes (Sepats, Provinces) of Ancient Egypt
Egypt has been divided into provinces since the Pre-dynastic period, but it is thought that there were originally fewer Sepats. Over time the boundaries of the provinces changed and the location of some still remain uncertain. Appearing late in Egyptian history, some Sepats such as the nome of Bubastis which is not mentioned until the New Kingdom.
Nome is of Greek origin (nomos) used to refer to the forty two traditional provinces of ancient Egypt. The actual ancient Egyptian term for these governmental divisions was sepat. Today, Egypt refers to its provinces as governates.
| Sepats of Lower Egypt | Sepats of Upper Egypt |
| Lower Egypt was ruled from the capital at Pe (Buto) in the northwest Delta. Upper Egypt was ruled from two capitals which were located at Nekhen (Hierakonpolis) or Thinis (near Abydos). The Pharaoh of Upper Egypt wore the White Crown ("hedjet") to display his guardianship of Upper Egypt. The Pharaoh of Lower Egypt wore the Red Crown ("deshret") to display his guardianship of Lower Egypt. After unification, the White Crown was combined with the Red Crown of Lower Egypt to form the Double Crown ("pschent"). | |
| Lower Egypt (Ta Mehu) | Upper Egypt (Ta Shemau) | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Nome (Translation) Capital | Major Deities | Nome (Translation) Capital | Major Deities |
| 1. Aneb-Hetch (White Walls) Memphis | Ptah, Sokar, Apis | 1. Ta-Seti (the Frontier) Abu, Elephantine | Khnum, Satet (Satis), Anuket (Anukis), Isis, Horus the Elder and Sobek |
| 2. Khensu (Cow's thigh) Khem (Letopolis) | Horus, Kherty | 2. Behde or Utes-Hor (Throne of Horus) Djeba | Horus |
| 3. Ahment (West) Imu (Apis) | Hathor | 3. Ten (The rural Shrine) Nekhen | Horus, Nekhbet, Khnum, Neith |
| 4. Sapi-Res (Southern shield) Ptkheka | Neith | 4. Waset (Sceptre) Niwt-rst / Waset | Amun, Mut, Khonsu, Montu, Sobek, Meretseger, the Buchis cult |
| 5. Sap-Meh (Northern shield) Buto | Sau, Neith | 5. Nebyet-Ombos-Tukh | Set of Nubet |
| 6. Khaset (Mountain bull) Khasu | Re | 6. Iunet-Tentyris-Dendera | Hathor, Isis, Horus |
| 7. A-ment (West harpoon) Hermopolis Parva | Ha | 7. Hut-Sekhem-Diospolis | Necropolis for Ibis |
| 8. A-bt (East harpoon) Tjeku | Atum | 8. Abedju - Abydos - Tjeny - Thinis | Osireion |
| 9. Ati (Andjeti) Busiris | Osiris, Andjety | 9. Ipu(khent-min)-Khemmis | Min |
| 10. Ka-khem (Black bull) Athribis | Horus | 10. Djew - el-Kebir | Set |
| 11. Ka-heseb (Heseb bull) Taremu | Shu, Tefnut, Mihos | 11. Shashotep (Apotheke, Shutb) | Set |
| 12. Theb-ka (Calf and Cow) Tjebnutjer | Anhuret-Shu, Mehyt | 12. Hut-Sekhem-Senusret (Hu) | Nemty |
| 13. Heq-at (prospering sceptre) Iunu | Atum, Nephthys, Iusaas, the Mnevis Bull, Hesat, Anubis | 13. Atef-Khent - Saut | Wepwawet, Anubis |
| 14. Khenty-ab (Eastmost) Tjaru | Set | 14. Atef-Pehu - Qesy (Cusae, al-Qusiya) | Hathor |
| 15. Tehut (Ibis) Ba'h or Weprehwy | Thoth | 15. Wn or Un (Khemenu) | Thoth |
| 16. Kha (Fish) Djedet | Banebdjed, Hatmehyt | 16. Meh-Mahetch | Pakhet, Khnum |
| 17. Semabehdet (The throne) Edfu (Behdet) | Horus | 17. Anubis | Anubis, Anput |
| 18. Am-Khent (Prince of the South) Per-Bastet | Bast | 18. | |
| 19. Am-Pehu (Prince of the North) Dja'net | Wadjyt | 19. | |
| 20.Sopdu (Plumed Falcon) Per-Sopdu | Sopdu | 20. | |
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| 22. | |||