The southern portion of Egypt is called Upper Egypt because the Nile flows from south to north. The “upper” part of the Nile is in the south, and the lower part of the Nile is in the north hence the south of Egypt is Upper Egypt, and the north is Lower Egypt. During Egypt’s Pre-dynastic period, upper and lower Egypt were two separate kingdoms. The Narmer Palette commemorates the victory of the southern king, King Narmer, over Lower Egypt and the subsequent unification of the two lands. The crown of Upper Egypt is the tall conical white crown, its flower is the lotus, and its protective goddess is Nekhbet. The north is symbolized by the papyrus plant and its protective goddess is Wadjet.
