Heliopolis

Heliopolis, the "city of the sun," appears in the Bible under the name of On. It was a splendid city and a famous seat of learning situated in Lower Egypt near the apex of the Nile delta. The site is now occupied by the village of Matariah. He­liopolis was said by ancient writers to have been founded during the second dynasty, though Egyptian records seem to indicate that this date is too early. A great temple was erected here by Amenemhat I, before which his son, Usertesen I, erected two obelisks, one of which still stands. Thothmes III erected at Heliopolis the obelisks known as Cleopatra's Needles, of which one is now in New York City, the other in London. The priests of this city probably enjoyed a wider reputation for learning than did those of any other ori­ental city; Thales, Solon and Plato are said to have received instruction from them. Heliopolis declined under later dynasties, and at the beginning of the Christian era the city was practically deserted, and nothing but the obelisk erected by Usertesen now remains.

Heliopolis