Sais

Sais, an ancient Egyptian city, called in the hieroglyphs Sa, was situated on the right bank of the Canopic branch of the Nile. It gave its name to two Egyptian dynasties, the 24th and 26th, founded by natives of the city. Sais was important as a religious capital, and had a famous temple of the goddess Neith and the tomb of Osiris. Towards the decline of the monarchy it rose to great splendour. The 26th dynasty transferred hither the capital of the kingdom. It was also a renowned seat of learning, and was frequently visited by the sages of Greece. The legend of the mysterious veiled statue in the temple at Sais (which formed the subject of Schiller's ballad and of Novalis' romance) is the issue of Greek invention.