Lecture on the Nile River’s mysteries and splendor
Posted on
Alexandria, 7 March 2005—The Dialogue Forum at the Bibliotheca Alexandrina organized a lecture discussing the book, The Nile, presented by its author, Professor Roushdy Said, on 5 March 2005.
In his lecture, Professor Roushdy spoke of the history of ancient Egypt, which dates back to 3100 B.C.E., and the ancient Egyptian civilization that began in the Nile Basin and lasted for over 2000 years. He added that the Egyptians worshipped the Nile, naming it the God, Hapi. To them, it was an inspiration and a source of life. It taught them to build ships, which helped unite them, and resulted in the trade and exchange of goods. In addition, it led to cultivation and the building of bridges and dams.
Professor Roushdy spoke of the mystery surrounding the origins of the ancient Egyptian civilization. He added that the 2000 years prior to the dynasties of pharaohs witnessed the presence of farmers along the Nile. These early settlers helped increase land fertility and advanced their cultivation skills. They made use of the tide, measured floods and Nile levels in innovative ways and used the water to irrigate their lands.
He stated that the current dry climate of the Sahara Desert and land west of the Nile originated 5000 years ago, approximately around the time that cultivation and civilization began along the banks of the Nile. The climate change gradually lead to the emigration of North-west African inhabitants toward the river.
Satellite images, indicated Professor Said, reveal evidence of buried channels of an prehistoric river, 20 km in width; a sign of the massive quantity of water that flowed in the region. It also shows the changes in the paths of the channels.
He pointed out, during the lecture, that until the beginnings of the 20th century, the Nile was solely studied and benefited from by Egypt. This was until Sudan began its cotton cultivation. Their quota of water was then determined in 1929, upon the signing of an agreement. The building of the High Dam in 1959, brought about the signing of another agreement to determine storage of the water among both Egypt and Sudan.