The Nile, source of life

Model of a boat, about 2000 BC

As an Egyptian, you would have adored not only a whole host of divinities, but also the river Nile, which brought life. Ancient maps clearly show that everyone wanted to live near the great river, in cities built on its banks. Thanks to annual flooding which fertilised fields with its silt, the Nile, running through the country from north to south, was a vital resource for Egypt. Boats have always been a part of everyday life in Egypt. Some were made of papyrus for fishing and hunting, while others, bigger and sturdier, were made of wood for transport and travel. At a time when roads were rare and hazardous, and no bridges linked the banks of the Nile, most people and goods got around on the river.