Shadouf in Ancient Egypt: definition, meaning

Remains of gardens that existed in ancient Egypt, are priceless sources that tell the history of the ancient world, for modern mankind. First of all, these are picturesque paintings and inscriptions found during archaeological excavations .

Researchers found many frescoes related to the New Kingdom (2 thousand years BC), with the image of Egyptian peasants, who extract water from the Nile using a mechanism called "shaduf." In ancient Egypt, he played an important role in the development of gardening in such incredibly difficult arid climatic conditions.

Egyptian gardens: research results

Multiple archaeological finds tell us about the planning of cities and structures of ancient times, as well as irrigation facilities. In this issue, particular attention is paid to the study of the location of pits with nutritive ground, which allow us to draw important conclusions about the vegetation of those times.

The construction of gardens has reached the widest scope in the heyday of the ancient capital of Upper Egypt - the city of Thebes (today Luxor). At that time, rich and luxurious villas with magnificent palaces, fabulous ponds and paradise gardens were surrounded there , surrounded by high walls.

All these studies allow us to obtain important materials that give a general idea of Egyptian gardens and ways of watering vegetation. Below, let's look at the meaning of the word "shadoof". In Ancient Egypt, this mechanism played a rather important role in people's lives.

Climate of Egypt

The climate in the territory of Ancient Egypt has always been unfavorable for gardening and agriculture. It is characterized by a lack of precipitation, scorching winds, which carry prickly sand. In this connection, life was possible only in the Nile valley. And yet this was not enough, additional artificial irrigation was needed.

For these purposes, wells were constructed, of which water was extracted by the crane system (lever), and special channels for irrigation were built.

What is Shadouf in Ancient Egypt: Definition

The importance of the gardens in ancient Egypt was great. They were necessary especially in the hot summer months, as they created a saving shadow. Even such records in ancient writings on the disasters of the population have survived, such as: "He is poor - he has no shadow."

The building material for the construction of shadofs was widely used in these areas, sandstones and limestones, as well as pink granite, jasper, diorite and porphyry.

Shaduf in Ancient Egypt is one of the most important inventions during the New Kingdom in this state. It is a water-lifting structure, similar to a well with a crane.

This device consisted of a lever, which was fixed between two vertical pillars. At its short end, a load was attached, and on the long one a container (bucket) made of palm leaves was installed. From there, the water was carried in buckets on yokes or in sheepskins made of sheep's skins.

Irrigation of fields and gardens

The only and most important mechanism that was at the private disposal of the peasants of those times was shaduf. In ancient Egypt, along the Nile River, many similar structures were erected. However, if the level of water in the river dropped, there were certain difficulties with the rise of water. A later, similar but improved invention for lifting water to the fields - "Archimedean screw" (this installation of equipment at different levels) made it possible to facilitate this process. The invention was acquired for collective use (one for two or three villages).

To facilitate irrigation, planting gardens were laid near ditches, often specially created for these purposes. Water from these ditches filled ponds, designed for watering trees and flowers. Just for drawing this water and served as a man-made device - shaduf.

Ancient Egypt is famous for its magnificent gardens. They were popular and widely used throughout the country. Emerging presumably from the watered gardens, gardens with the growth of the welfare of Egypt have turned into luxurious green complexes with amazing ponds, beautiful flowers, statues, fabulous alleys of fruit trees and a variety of plants. These magnificent sites were broken up near and around temples, luxurious palaces and mansions of the richest Egyptians.