Nile -- Ancient History Encyclopedia

Definition

The world’s longest river, located in Egypt, the Nile flows 4,665 miles northward to the Mediterranean Sea (a very unusual direction for a river to take). The Nile flows from two separate sources: the White Nile from equatorial Africa and the Blue Nile from the Abyssinian highlands.

The Nile was regarded as the source of all life in ancient Egypt and the Nile River Valley gave birth to the culture we know today as that of Egypt. The river’s annual floods deposited fertile black soil along the arid banks and, in time, the people would develop canals, irrigation and sophisticated agricultural systems to work the land. The river became known as the “Father of Life” and the “Mother of All Men” and was considered a manifestation of the god Hapi, who blessed the land with life, and with the goddess Ma’at, who rendered harmony and balance, as well as with the ancient goddesses Hathor and Isis. The Nile river remains an integral part of Egyptian life, lore and commerce today and it is said by the Egyptians that, should a visitor once look upon the beauty of the Nile, the return of that visitor to Egypt is assured (a claim made, also, in antiquity). The Roman playwright Seneca the Younger (1st century CE) who owned land in Egypt, described the Nile as an amazing wonder and this is an opinion shared by many ancient writers who visited this “mother of all men” of Egypt; a view shared by many who experience it even today.

Written by Joshua J. Mark, published 02 September 2009.