ancient city, Egypt
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Also known as: Iunu, On, Onu
Heliopolis
Heliopolis
(Greek), Egyptian:
Iunu or Onu (“Pillar City”)
Biblical:
On
Key People:
Callinicus of Heliopolis
Related Topics:
ancient Egyptian religion
temple
obelisk
Related Places:
Egypt
ancient Egypt

Heliopolis, one of the most ancient Egyptian cities and the seat of worship of the sun god, Re. It was the capital of the 15th nome of Lower Egypt, but Heliopolis was important as a religious rather than a political centre. During the New Kingdom (c. 1539–1075 bce) its great temple of Re was second in size only to that of Amon at Thebes, and its priesthood wielded great influence, particularly during the 5th dynasty (c. 2465–c. 2325 bce), when the worship of Re became the state cult.

Little remains today of this great ancient Egyptian city. The sole surviving monument is the obelisk of Sesostris I, the oldest obelisk in existence. Of the pair of obelisks erected by Thutmose III in Heliopolis, now known as Cleopatra’s Needles, one stands on the Thames embankment in London and the other in Central Park, in New York City.

Al-Jizah. Giza Necropolis, Giza Plateau, Cairo, Egypt. Side view of Sphinx with the Great Pyramid of Khufu (Cheops) rising in the background. The sides of all three of the Giza pyramids are astronomically oriented to be north-south, east-west (see notes)
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The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica This article was most recently revised and updated by Laura Etheredge.