Saïs

Saís, also spelled Saïs and written with the accent in some transliterations as Sais, is a name used for more than one topic. In ancient Egypt, Sais was a city in the western Nile Delta that became the capital of the Saite Dynasty (the 26th Dynasty) around the late 7th to early 6th century BCE. The city was a major religious and political center and housed the temple of Neith, a principal cult site in the Saite period. The term Sais is therefore linked to the Saite era in Egyptology, a time noted for renewed political consolidation and distinctive art and architecture.

In modern usage, SAIS is an acronym for the Paul H. Nitze School of Advanced International Studies, a graduate school of Johns Hopkins University. SAIS specializes in international relations, international economics, and public policy, and operates campuses in Washington, D.C., Bologna (Italy), and Nanjing (China). The school is known for its master’s and doctoral programs, alumni networks, and international orientation.

Other uses of Sais/Saïs include as a surname in various cultures and as a historical toponym encountered in classical literature and archaeology reports referring to the Egyptian city and its associated period. The term may appear in academic texts, travel and historical writings, and branding related to institutions or publications that draw on the ancient city’s legacy.