Nekhen /ˈnɛkən/ or Hierakonpolis (/ˌhaɪərəˈkɒnpəlɨs/; Ancient Greek: Ἱεράκων πόλις hierakōn polis, "city of hawks", Arabic: الكوم الأحمر‎, Al-Kom Al-Aħmar, "red mound") was the religious and political capital of Upper Egypt at the end of the Predynastic period