Beneath the houses of Cairo lies a much older metropolis. In Heliopolis, as the ancient Greeks called the city, once stood the largest and most important temple of the pharaohs. It was here, the ancient Egyptians believed, that all creation had begun, and it was here where the King was given the power to rule.
Numerous traditions and legends tell of everyday life in the temple city. Even famous scientists like Plato came to study there. For a good 3,000 years, the holy rites were performed in Heliopolis, the temple district was extended again and again. Then the legendary sanctuary fell to ruin and partly disappeared under the new metropolis founded many centuries later.
