Nekhen /ˈnɛkən/ or Hierakonpolis (/ˌhaɪərəˈkɒnpəlᵻs/; 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 (c. 3200–3100 BC), and probably also during the Early Dynastic Period (c. 3100–2686 BC). Some authors suggest occupation dates that should begin thousands of years earlier.