|
|
The Delta of the river Nile has played an increasingly important part in the economy, politics and culture of Egypt from the dynastic periods, through Ptolemaic times, and to the present day.
During the Pharaonic period, there were five tributaries of the Nile - the Pelusiac, the Tanitic, the Mendesian, the Phatnitic (Bucolic), the Sebennytic, the Bolbitine and the Canopic - that fed the delta's marshlands. The farmers of that region cultivated the borders. By the time of the New Kingdom, the draining of the Delta had provided a cultivation area that was twice the size of the entire Nile valley.
During the Second Intermediate Period, Egypt was ruled by the Hyksos. The eastern Delta was called the Land of Goshen and was the capital of the Hyksos. During the 7th century BC, Naucratis, which is in the western Delta, became a flourishing Greek trading center. Ramesses II's capital, Pi-Ramesses, was built here. During the first millenium BC the Egyptian affairs were dominated by the Delta. The Delta became even more important when the Ptolemies built Alexandria as their capital between the sea and the Delta. Most of the historical remains of the Delta have not survived the shifting of the Nile, the Mediterranean rains and the repeated plowing of the fields.
All but two of the tributaries have now filled with silt; the eastern Damietta and the western Rosetta. Over the centuries, cities were abandonded or just disappeared with the drying up of some arms or the changing course of others.
Today the delta supplies the majority of Egypt's crops to feed Egypt's people. The Delta is lush with vegetation and its many canals work their way through the area. Vast fields of cotton, maize and rice decorate the flat landscape and the buffalo graze, plow or turn wheels for the grinding of the grain.
Benha is located 48 km north of Cairo and was developed before the Greeks arrived in Egypt. Nearby are the remains of Athribis which was once the capital of the 10th Nome. Athribis was associated with the worship of the black bull. During the Roman period the city was at its greatest importance. There are little remains of the town except for traces of temples that date from the 18th to the 26th Dynasties. There is also an extensive Graeco-Roman cemetery. Some 26th to 30th Dynasty silver ingots and jewelry that were found at the Athribis site that are now in the Egyptian Museum in Cairo.
Damanhur is located 160 km northwest of Cairo in the middle of the western Delta. It was once the site of the city of Tmn-Hor, which was dedicated to Horus. One attraction for a visitor occurs in November when there is the Moulid of Sheikh Abu Rish. There is also a Jewish moulid that occurs over two days in January. The moulid is held at the shrine of a 19th century mystic called Abu Khatzeira. All non-Jewish Egyptians are kept out of the festival by the police. Most that attend are Europeans and Israelis that bring their sick relatives or bottled water that is blessed at the shrine during the festival.
Located on a narrow strip of land between the Nile and Lake Manzala lies Dumyat or Damietta in Arabic. It is 210 km northeast of Cairo and 15 km from the Mediterranean. It is a thriving port and industrial center, but has few attractions for visitors. The city thrived as a trading port throughout the Middle Ages but during the Crusades it suffered greatly. It was occupied by Christian forces twice when St. Francis of Assisi accompanied the invaders. The city was destroyed in 1250 AD by the Mamluks who made the river impassable as punishment for suspected disloyalty and to prevent further invasions. The city was rebuilt by the Ottomans and many of their buildings are still in good condition. After the opening of the Suez Canal, the city has suffered a small amount, but is still is a successful port although small. Outside the town is Lake el Manzalla which is a huge lake that has a vast number of birds during the winter season. There are flamingoes, spoonbills, herons, pelicans and storks that stop here on their migration. On the other side of the branch of the Nile are three beach resorts, Ras el-Bar, Baltim and Gamassa. These resorts are most easily reached by way of Damietta. In the old town of Damietta you will find the Abu El-Maati Mosque that is surrounded by an enormous cemetery. The mosque was built during the Fatimid period when the town was captured by the Muslims. The mosque has been closed down and is falling into ruin.
El Mansura is a relatively new city that was founded in 1220 AD by Sultan al-Kamil, who was Salah al-Din's nephew. It was during the Siege of Damietta by the Crusader forces during the 6th Crusade. The name El Mansura means 'the victorious'. The Crusaders reoccupied Damietta in 1249 and captured the town after the death of Kamil's son Sultan Ayyub. His death was hidden from the troops by his wife to keep their moral from falling. After a bout of food poisoning, the Crusader troops were weakened and the Muslims counter-attacked. They captured El Mansura as well as France's King Louis IX before he ransomed for the return of Damietta. The city itself is an attractive city with elegant villas along the Nile. These villas are from the era when cotton was very important. The inhabitants are light-skinned and fair-haired and their city is regarded as the Queen of the Delta. It is located 55 km north of Zagazig.
Tanta is Egypt's fifth largest city and is located 94 km north of Cairo and 130 km southeast of Alexandria, in the heart of the Gharbiya province. There are about 335,000 people in Tanta and a major university is located here. Tanta is reached by the Damietta branch of the Nile and northwest and by way of Birket el-Sab. This city comes to life in late October during at the end of the cotton harvest. About two million people from around the Delta and other parts of the Arab world come for the Moulid of Sayid Ahmed el-Badawi, which is an eight day celebration. The moulid is centered around the Mosque and Tomb of Sayid Ahmed el Badawi. El Badawi was the founder of one of Egypt's largest Sufi orders called Badawiya. He was born in Morocco, but emigrated to Arabia. He was sent to Tanta in 1234 as a representative of the order from Iraq. He was given permission to start a new order in Tanta and it soon flourished. His tomb was destroyed in the mid-nineteenth century but another was built and is the center of the festival. During the festival many sugar-coated nuts called 'hubb el Azziz' ('seeds of the Beloved Prophet') are eaten. They have been considered a delicacy since ancient times.
Zagazig is the capital of the Sharqiyyah Province and is located 80 km northeast of Cairo. It was founded in the 1820's and was the birthplace of Colonel Ahmed Orabi who led the revolt against the British in 1882. It is located on the Muweis Canal and is the chief center of the corn and cotton trade. There is a small museum called the Orabi Museum that contains some interesting archaeological exhibits. There are the ruins of Bubastis located 3 km southeast of town. Bubastis was the ancient capital of the 18th nome and is home to the feast celebrating the cat-goddess Bastet. There are remains of the temples built by Osorkon II and Nectanebo II. Catacombs where the sacred cats were buried are located behind an Old Kingdom structure that is from the period of Pepi I.