The Nile River was always the lifeblood of Egypt - and remains so today. It is the longest river in the world flowing for 6,600 kilometers or 4,100 miles before terminating in the Mediterranean Sea. If one is visiting Egypt, the best way to see the Nile is by a Nile river cruise.
Over the course of Egypt's history, the river has been the source of irrigation that has transformed what is a dry area into lush agricultural land. So much so that is easy to see where the Nile flows from space. One sees the barren and desolate land with a sliver of green along the Nile's banks.
The Vital Importance Of The Nile To Egypt
The River Nile starts with the rivers that flow into the large Lake Victoria in the heart of Africa. One of the best places in the world to go white water rafting is on the Nile just as it empties out of Lake Victoria in Uganda. In total, the Nile drains from and through eleven African countries.
- Main Tributaries: The White Nile, the Blue Nile, and the Atbara
The silt that was once carried by the Nile that fertilized the land is now building up behind Aswan Dam that has been built on it. The river and its delta are facing many environmental issues today. Every year the Nile would flood its banks, this would provide vital fertile silt and water to the land so that it could continue to grow crops.
The ancient Egyptians developed irrigation methods to increase their crop yields that in turn supported the large population and mighty civilization of ancient Egypt. They grew cotton, wheat, beans, and flax along the Nile. They used the papyrus plant that grows in the Nile delta for making cloth, boxes, rope, and (importantly) paper.
Even today 95% of the Egyptian population lives within just a few miles of the Nile.
How The Ancient Egyptians Saw the Nile
The ancient Egyptians thought that the Nile was a gift of the gods and thought about it as life itself.
According to Eygpttoday.com, they organized their daily lives in accordance with the high and low levels of water. Even their ancient calendar was based on the three seasons of the Nile.
- Egyptian Calendar: The Three Seasons of The Nile - Flood, Agriculture, and Harvest
But while it was important for the Nile to flood (otherwise they would have drought and famine), it was also important for it not to flood too much otherwise (otherwise they would lose their homes).
- Gods Of The Nile: Khnum and Hapi
It comes as no surprise that the river on which the Egyptians so depended was also thought of as governed by the gods. And it was important for the gods to regulate the river - the two main deities were Khnum and Hapi. Khnum was the god of water who brought life to the banks of the river and is also thought to have made humans. He was depicted with a ram's head. He was one of the oldest of the Egyptian deities.
- Oldest: Khnum Was One of The Oldest Egyptian Deities
Hapi - The God Of The Annual Flooding Of the Nile
Hapi was the god of the annual flooding of the Nile (not the Nile itself). It was this flooding that allowed the Egyptians to grow crops and survive. Hapi was greatly celebrated among the Egyptians and one of his titles was "Lord of the River Bringing Vegetation".
- Hapi: The Personification of the Nile Flood
- Fun Fact: "Hapi" Meant "Happy" In Ancient Egyptian
It was sometimes said that the annual flooding of the Nile was the Arrival of Hapi.
As this flooding brought fertility to the crops, he also symbolized fertility. He had large female breasts as it was he who brought the rich and nourishing harvest.
Whereas the Greek Olympian gods lived on Mount Olympus (which one can visit today), he was thought to live in a cavern at what the Egyptians thought was the source of the Nile near Aswan.
- Androgynous: He Has Both Male And Female Characteristics - With Pendant Breasts and A Swollen Belly For Fertility
At the Temple of Abu Simbel (the place with the colossal seated statues of Ramesses II), one can find a relief of Hapi. According to The University of Memphis, in this relief, he is depicted twice tying stems of plants around the hieroglyph for "unite". He also holds stems of the lotus (the symbol of Upper Egypt), and on his other hand, stems of the papyrus (the symbol of Lower Egypt).
- Relief Of Hapi: A Notable Relief of Hapi Can Be Seen At the Temple of Abu Simbel