Although Egypt was an autonomous state - unusually large compared to the numerous city-states of the ancient Middle East - and was governed by a single king, spoke only one language and practiced only one religion, its inhabitants referred to it in dualistic terms. "The two countries" (Taouy) was a frequent designation and "the master of the two countries" (Neb taouy) was one of the epithets of the pharaoh. In religious literature, state ceremonies or artistic symbols, the message of the dual country was emphasized, especially Upper and Lower Egypt.
The Upper Egypt (Ta-Shemaou) was the Nile Valley, central and southern of the country to Aswan; Lower Egypt (Ta-Mehou) was the Nile Delta in the north. Each one was divided into nomos or administrative departments. In strong central governments, the nomos had little political importance; Under weak kings, regional officials (nomarchs) challenged the central authority. Each nomo had an emblem, a main city and a preferred local deity. The lists of nomos were recorded on the walls of the temples, and their symbolic representations were ordered from the nome further south of Upper Egypt, and moving north.