SAIS, an ancient Egyptian city, called in the hieroglyphs Sa, and existing at the time of the old monarchy, was situated on the right bank of the Canopic branch of the Nile, in 31° 4' n. lat. It is at present called Sa el Hagar, or Sa of the Stone, from sonic mod.: ern stone buildings in the neighborhood. There are, however, no remains of temples or palaces on the site; all that remains being a wall of unburnt brick '70 ft. in thickness, perhaps the periholos of the temple. Traces of the Temenos, 720 ft. long, still exist, and of the citadel, but the temples and tombs which stood within the city Nralls have been completely stripped; many fine statues of basalt of the 26th or Saite dynasty, from this spot, being found in the different collections of Europe. Sais gave its name to a mime, and also to two Egyptian dynasties. the 24th and 26th, founded by natives of the city. The goddesses principally worshiped there were Neith or Minerva, and Ceres or Isis. Neith was said to be the mother of the sun, and is Constantly called in the hiero glyphical legends the mistress of Sais; and an inscription in the temple of Neith is said to have declared of her. "I am past, present, and future; no one has lifted my veil; the fruit I have brought forth is the sun." At Sais there was also a sepulcher of Osiris.
The tombs of the kings, contrary to Egyptian and resembling the Greek custom, were within the walls. The tomb of Amasis consisted of a stone edifice with columns, and a chamber with doors. Sais was important as a religious capital. Toward the decline of the monarchy, it rose to great splendor. The 26th dynasty transferred hither the cap1tal of the kingdom. Amesis transported a monolithic shrine of granite from Elephantine to Sais utter three years' labor, employing 2,000 men in the undertaking. Solon and Pythagoras visited Sale, and Plato was instructed in its colleges. There seems to have been a considerable Greek population in the city; but although Sais continued to be men tioaed after the 26th dynasty. its political importance then declined, and Memphis became the seat of government. The intercourse between Sais and Athens subsequently gave rise to the idea of Athens having been colonized from it. Lepsius, Briefe, p. 12; Wilkin son, ifodern, Egypt, vol. i. p. 183; Herodot, ii, 28, 59, 169; Strabo, xvii. p. 801; Champols lam, EEgypte, ii. p. 219; Lettres, p. 50.