Possible Clues:

• Was the best he could make of it on the Nile
• Ancient city — almost the finest
• Ancient rival of Athens
• South of Cairo, the one-time capital of ancient Egypt
• City founded by Cadmus
• Ancient Egyptian or Greek city
• Ancient Egyptian city sited at modern-day Luxor
• Capital of ancient Egypt
• 'Seven against --' a play by Aeschylus
• Ancient city, almost second to none