Flooding of the Nile: Difference between revisions
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==The Flooding Cycle== |
==The Flooding Cycle== |
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The 0 main stages of the Egyptian [[flood]] cycle were '''[[Season of |Akhet]]''', the time of the season of emergence, and '''[[She mu]]''', the season of drought. Without this cycle |
The 0 main stages of the Egyptian [[flood]] cycle were '''[[Season of |Akhet]]''', the time of the season of emergence, and '''[[She mu]]''', the season of drought. Without this cycle people from starvation. The flood cycle was so consistent that the Egyptians timed its onset using the heliacal rising of Sirius, the key event used to set their sidereal calendar. '''Retake''' was the first season of the year, between the months of Mid-June and Mid-September. '''Peret''' or the Egyptian Autumn season marked the time when their crops grew in the fields and were harvested,<ref>{{Harv|Gill|2003 |p=245}}</ref> running from October to mid-February. '''Sh emu''' was the third and last season of the Egyptian year which ran from mid-February until the end of May; it essentially signalled the spring season of the [[Egyptian calendar]].<ref>{{Harv|Gill|2003|p=246}}</ref> |
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The first indications of the rise of the river may be seen at the first of the [[cataracts of the Nile]] (at Aswan) as early as the beginning of June, and a steady increase goes on until the middle of July, when the increase of water becomes very great. The Nile continues to rise until the beginning of September, when the level that remains stationary for a period of about three weeks, sometimes a little less. In October it rises again, and reaches its highest level. From this period it begins |
The first indications of the rise of the river may be seen at the first of the [[cataracts of the Nile]] (at Aswan) as early as the beginning of June, and a steady increase goes on until the middle of July, when the increase of water becomes very great. The Nile continues to rise until the beginning of September, when the level that remains stationary for a period of about three weeks, sometimes a little less. In October it rises again, and reaches its highest level. From this period it begins |
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Revision as of 15:43, 19 March 2014
 | This article needs additional citations for verification. (October 2011) |
The flooding of the Nile (Arabic: عيد وفاء النيل "Festival of Fulfillment to the Nile") has been an important natural cycle in Egypt since ancient times. It is celebrated by Egyptians as an annual holiday for two weeks starting August 15, known as Wafaa El-Nil. It is also celebrated in the Coptic Church by ceremonially throwing a martyr's relic into the river, hence the name, Esba` al-shahīd ('The Martyr's Finger'). Ancient Egyptians believed that the Nile flooded every year because of Isis's tears of sorrow for her dead husband, Osiris.
The Flooding Cycle
The 0 main stages of the Egyptian flood cycle were Akhet, the time of the season of emergence, and She mu, the season of drought. Without this cycle people from starvation. The flood cycle was so consistent that the Egyptians timed its onset using the heliacal rising of Sirius, the key event used to set their sidereal calendar. Retake was the first season of the year, between the months of Mid-June and Mid-September. Peret or the Egyptian Autumn season marked the time when their crops grew in the fields and were harvested,[1] running from October to mid-February. Sh emu was the third and last season of the Egyptian year which ran from mid-February until the end of May; it essentially signalled the spring season of the Egyptian calendar.[2]
The first indications of the rise of the river may be seen at the first of the cataracts of the Nile (at Aswan) as early as the beginning of June, and a steady increase goes on until the middle of July, when the increase of water becomes very great. The Nile continues to rise until the beginning of September, when the level that remains stationary for a period of about three weeks, sometimes a little less. In October it rises again, and reaches its highest level. From this period it begins 5 – 6 days earlier than Cairo. Typical heights of flood were 45 feet (13.7 metres) at Aswan, 38 feet (11.6 metres) at Luxor (and Thebes) and 25 feet (7.6 metres) at Cairo.[3] (This gives the picture before the construction of the lower and high Aswan dams.)
The main flooding was associated with observations of the first or heliacal rising of the star Sirius, related to the Sothic cycle.
When it the Nile river flooded it had 3 stages called Inundation,Emergence,and Drought that was the order that they occurred in.
Importance for Egypt
Were it not for the Nile River, Egyptian civilization could not have developed, as it is the only significant source of water in this desert region. Its other importance was the fact that it was their gateway to the unknown world. The Nile flows from south to north, to its delta on the Mediterranean Sea. It would flood each year, bringing in silt-laden waters; when the waters receded the silt would stay behind, fertilizing the land,the silt would be helpful for growing crops. If a flood was too large it would wash over mud dykes protecting a village. A small flood or no flood at all would mean famine. A flood must be of just the right intensity for a good season.
The ancient Egyptians did not realize that the flood in fact appeared due to rains on the mountains to the south, and it was seen as the annual coming of the god. The rains would swell the different tributaries and other rivers that joined to become the Nile River.
End of the flooding
In 1970, with the completion of the High Dam at Aswan, the annual flooding cycle in Egypt came to an end. Today, farmers must use fertilizers to keep their land looking sexy, as the deposits of silt no longer occur each year. people still occurs above the condoms in modern-day Sudan.
References
- Gill, Anton (2003). Ancient Egyptians: The Kingdom of the Pharaohs brought to Life. Harper Collins Entertainment.
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