Tjeny or as it was also known by its Greek variations, Thinis or This, is a city of some importance to the Archaic Period of Egypt's history. To our modern eyes this is a legendary city, said to be the home of the first kings of a unified Egypt, those Pharaohs of the First and Second Dynasties. In some references the city has lent its name to these combined dynasties and they are known collectively as the Thinite Dynasties, a name that was possibly born from Manetho's connection of them with the city of Thinis.

Cartouche, Qaa

The location of the ancient city of Thinis is still unknown, but it was obviously a place of importance, if not nationally than at least regionally as the capital of the 8th Nome of Upper Egypt. While the resting place of the city eludes archaeologists there are a few locales that could be likely candidates. Girga, located north of Abedjou, is a favorite although el-Birba is in the running and one must not overlook that Thinis has been associated with Abedjou itself on more than one occasion. What relationship there would have been between Abedjou and Thinis is uncertain, but Abedjou could have been the resting place for many of the elite of the Thinite nobility.

If Thinis had indeed been the home to the kings of the First and Second Dynasties, it would have been a city of national importance, second only to Men-nefer in the north - a thriving center of social, political, cultural and religious activity and more importantly, the birthplace of the kings and their forefathers. Until the city itself is located and excavated, one can only imagine what it would have looked like, but it is very likely it would have been constructed similar to another ancient city, Nekhen. It would have been bustling with life, sounds, scents and sites to tempt all the senses and pull one in closer to view the pulsing life of an ancient Egyptian city. The city itself would have been surrounded by a wall, probably originally constructed as defensive, but now - in this time of peace and prosperity, more of a boundary marker. Within the walled city one would find workshops to accomodate the craftsmen, breweries, temples dedicated to gods of state and the patron deity of the nome and there, located close to the temples, would have been the homes of the nobles. Farms abutting the Nile would lie outside the city walls with herding camps nearby to provide more staples needed by the thriving community.

As a political and military center, Thinis would have played a very important role during the process of unification - providing troops, weapons and food for the king's army and possibly acting as a departure point for more northern military excursions. After the unification, the city would have been a hub for administrative activity for the government of Upper Egypt - acting as a southern counterpart to the northern city of Men-nefer. Though the land was unified under one king, both Upper and Lower Egypt retained some individuality and it was necessary to maintain two administrative structures to govern the land peacefully. In this way, Thinis retained its importance as the capital of Upper Egypt and it would be many years before that importance would diminish. Although through time the prominence of Thinis would decrease and the city itself would fade from man's sight, its legend endures to lure us to discover it - the prestigious birthplace of the first kings of a unified Egypt.