Geography of Ancient Egypt was important to the understanding all we were seeing. The modern map of Egypt is not what was considered Egypt of the Kings and Pharaohs of Upper and Lower Egypt. Even these names can be confusing as Upper Egypt was the area from Luxor South, while Lower Egypt is the area of Memphis and the Nile Delta to fit the geography not the map as the Nile flows north from the heights of central Africa.
Egypt (3500 BC) was the green valley along the Nile and the area about 10 miles east and west in the of that valley. This was the Egypt of Abraham, Joseph and then his father Jacob and his brothers. Ancient Egypt did conquered other areas and had satellite military posts in Sinai, and south of the second cataract at Abu Simbel but they were not considered Egypt. Of the Bible.
The valley was replenished each year with the water and silt that came down during the inundation of the Nile from the rains in mountains of Ethiopia and Sudan During this time the workers from the farms went to the desert areas to work on the pyramids, tombs or temples.
Egypt had and still has three seasons: the Inundation ( Akhet), Growth (Prt or Peret ) Harvest. (Shema or Low water). In the Egyptian calendar, a month was three weeks long but each week had 10 days. The calendar started with the rising of the Nile, not on a specific day. When giving dates (Egyptian or Bible) it was given as the number of years of the most important person at the time, the years of the Pharaoh or king.
Even in ancient times canals were created to water the land. The most famous canal was created by Joseph from the Capital at his time in Al Fayum to divert the Nile through a valley that helped Al Fayum become the fertile oasis and storehouses for the seven years of prosperity which were followed by the 7 years of famine. This cannel is called Bahr Yussuf (River of Joseph). Egyptian History recognizes the importance of Joseph to their survival.
The Nile is the lifeblood of this nation. The new Dams that provide hydroelectric power prevent the rich soil from coming into the valley. Now the areas around the dam have to be dredged and the soil is put on the desert to create more harvestable land.
The next section I will try to give a quick history outline with details coming later.
In Reality this blog is really for me when I get to a place where I forget all that I have done. Thanks for participating in my large memory post-it note!😉
Ellen
Ellen’s Travel Journal 2016-2025 