THIS SAME PATTERN WAS FOLLOWED IN THE CREATION OF GARDENS IN

EGYPT, THE MOST ANCIENT GARDENS CREATED BY MEN, OR SO THEY TELL

THE PLANS FOUND AND PRESERVED.

THE MAIN GOAL OF EGYPTIAN

GARDENS WAS TO OFFER SHADOW AND A BREATH OF FRESH AIR TO AN
ARID LAND, LACKING IN A VARIETY OF TREES AND FLOWERS, SUCH AS
EGYPT. ITS POPULATION IMPORTED FOREIGN EXOTIC SPECIES FOR ITS
PRIVATE PALACES AND TEMPLES. OLD MANUSCRIPTS TELL THAT QUEEN
HATSHEPSUT BROUGHT THIRTY FRANKINCENSE TREES, AND THAT
THUTMOTSE III ORDERED THE PAINTING OF ALL THE TREES HE HAD
IMPORTED FROM ASIA IN THE TEMPLE WALLS.

A UTILITY GARDEN
GARDENS WERE CLOSED BY HIGH WALLS AND WERE USUALLY
RECTILINEAR AND GEOMETRICAL. EGYPTIAN GARDENS DIDN’T
CHARACTERIZE FOR THEIR GREAT DESIGNS, BUT RATHER FOR THEIR
UTILITARIAN STYLE, WHERE EVERYTHING HAD A PURPOSE. IT WAS
COMMON TO FIND RECTANGULAR PONDS IN THE CENTER OF THE GARDEN,
THAT DRANK FROM THE WATER CHANNELS SUPPLIED BY THE RIVER NILE,
AND THAT WERE USUALLY DECORATED WITH LOTUS FLOWERS
(NYMPHAEA CARELUEA), WHOSE FLOATING LEAVES SHADED THE FISH, AS
WELL AS WITH NILE GRASS (CYPERUS PAPYRUS) AND OTHER AQUATIC
PLANTS. THESE GARDENS ALSO HAD COVERED BOATS, AND LOW
PERGOLAS WHOSE PURPOSE WERE TO DELINEATE AND SHADE THE PATHS
THAT CONNECTED THE GARDENS WITH THEIR HOMES.
  THE SHAPE OF THE CONSTRUCTION FOLLOWED THE DISTRIBUTION OF THE GARDENING
AREA, AND ANGULAR SHAPES WERE FREQUENT, BOTH RECTANGULAR OR IN THE SHAPE OF
A SQUARE.
 LIKEWISE, FLOWER BEDS AND QUADRANTS WERE DESIGNED BY RELYING ON TRANSVERSAL
AND LONGITUDINAL AXIS, IN THE SHAPE OF A CRUISE.
 PERSPECTIVE WAS ACHIEVED THROUGH THE DESIGN OF STRIPS SURROUNDING THE
IRRIGATION CHANNELS THAT CROSSED CROPS AND CONNECTED TO THE RIVER NILE.

IT IS WELL KNOWN THAT THE EGYPTIANS WERE OUTSTANDING FARMERS

WHO EXCELLED IN THE EXPLOITATION OF THEIR RICH AND FERTILE LANDS,
COVERED IN SLIME FROM THE ANNUAL FLOODING OF THE RIVER NILE. THIS
CIVILIZATION LIVED IN HARMONY WITH NATURE, RESPECTING IT AND
PROFITING FROM EVERYTHING IT PROVIDED.
AFTER THE EXPANSION OF ISLAM ACROSS THE PERSIAN, EGYPTIAN AND
SYRIAN EMPIRES, IN THE 7TH AND 8TH CENTURIES, MUSLIMS LEARNED
IRRIGATION TECHNIQUES, AS WELL AS TECHNIQUES FOR THE EXTRACTION
AND USE OF WATER, VERY DEVELOPED IN THE REGION AT THE TIME, AND
INTRODUCED IT TO THE GARDENS OF AL-ANDALUS.

WHAT DID THE NILE’ CIVILIZATION CULTIVATE?

THE EGYPTIAN GARDENS GREW HERBS AND AROMATIC PLANTS,
MEDICINAL PLANTS AND EDIBLE PLANTS, SUCH AS VEGETABLES AND FRUIT
TREES, FIGS, DATES, AND POMEGRANATES. BOTANICAL SPECIES WERE
ALSO A SOURCE OF RAW MATERIALS, USED FOR BASIC PRODUCTS,
TEXTILES AND EVERYDAY TOOLS.

AMONG EGYPT’S MOST EMBLEMATIC SPECIES WE FIND THE DATE PALM

(PHOENIX DACTILYFERA). IN ADDITION TO DATES, ITS SAP WAS USED TO
PRODUCE WINE, AND ITS FIBERS WERE USED TO MAKE BASKETS.
THE SYCAMORE FIG (FICUS SYCOMORUS), CONSIDERED THE TREE OF
LIFE, AND ASSOCIATED WITH ISIS (OSIRIS’ WIFE). IT WAS HIGHLY PRAISED
FOR ITS THICK SHADOW AND ITS FRUITS, THE FIG, AND WOOD, USED FOR
THE PRODUCTION OF FURNITURE AND SARCOPHAGUS.

THE PAPYRUS (CYPER PAPYRUS) GREW ABUNDANTLY IN THE NILE’S RIVER

BANKS, ON ITS HUMID AND RICH GROUND. IT REPRESENTED THE LOWER
EGYPT AND, BY DRYING ITS STEM, THE FAMOUS PAPYRUS, USED FOR
WRITING, WERE PRODUCED.
THE EGYPTIAN LOTUS, OR BLUE LOTUS (NYMPHAEA CAERULEA), FLOATED
ALONG THE NILE, WITH ITS BEAUTIFUL AND EXCEPTIONAL FLOWERS.
EGYPTIANS LOVED AND VENERATED THE LOTUS FLOWER, THAT OPENS IN
THE MORNING AND CLOSES AT NIGHT. FOR THEM, THIS FLOWER WAS A
SYMBOL OF REBIRTH. EVERY PART OF THIS PLANT, ITS ROOTS, SEEDS,
FRUITS, AND PETALS, WAS USED FOR DIFFERENT PURPOSES, FOR FOOD,
ESTHETIC PURPOSES OR MEDICINES. EGYPTIANS USED THEM TO CREATE
FLOWER ARRANGEMENTS THAT THEY OFFERED TO THEIR GODS, AND
THAT DECORATED THEIR TEMPLES, PALACES, AND CEREMONIES. THE
LOTUS FLOWER REPRESENTS THE UPPER EGYPT.

THE POMEGRANATE (PUNICA GRANATUM) OFFERED A DELICIOUS FRUIT

USED TO PREPARE POMEGRANATE JUICE AND A MEDICINAL WINE.
 THE MANDRAKE (MANDRAGORA
OFFICINARUM), ALONG WITH THE LOTUS FLOWER, WAS ONE OF THE MAIN
HALLUCINOGENIC SPECIES, AS IT CONTAINS AN ALKALOID, THE ATROPINE.

THE PULP OF THE DUM PALM (HYPHAENE THEBAICA) WAS USED FOR

DESERTS AND PASTRY. ORIGINAL FROM THE NILE VALLEY AND SUDAN, IN
THE TOMB OF PHARAOH TUTANKAMON WERE FOUND 8 THREE THOUSAND-
YEARS-OLD BASKETS WITH THIS FRUITS. WE KNOW THAT ITS FRUIT WAS
USED AS AN OFFERING IN FUNERALS. HOWEVER, TAMARISK
FRUITS (TAMARIX NILOTICA-ARTICULATA) WERE NOT EDIBLE, AND WERE
USED AS MEDICINAL REMEDIES FOR EYE DISEASES.

THE OLIVE TREE (OLEA EUROPEA) WAS IMPORTED FROM MINOR ASIA,

SYRIA AND GREECE, AND BOTH THE TREE AND ITS OIL WERE REALLY
USEFUL. ALMOND TREES (PRUNUS DULCIS), WHICH WERE IMPORTED FROM
PALESTINE, WERE ALSO USED FOR OIL.

APPLE TREES (MALUS SYLVESTRIS) COULD ONLY BE AFFORDED BY

PHARAOHS AND THE UPPER CLASS, AS IT COULD ONLY BE CULTIVATED IN
COLD WEATHER REGIONS.
THE EGYPTIAN PLUM (CORDIA MYXA) WAS USED FOR SWEETS, AND ITS
FERMENTATION WAS USED TO OBTAIN WINE. AND SPEAKING OF WINE,
THE GRAPE VINE (VITIS VINÍFERA) WAS ONE OF THEIR MOST IMPORTANT
SPECIES, EXPLOITED FOR FRUITS AND FERMENTED TO OBTAIN DIFFERENT
TYPES OF WHITE AND RED WINE, OF HIGH OR LOW QUALITY.

WE KNOW THE EGYPTIANS GREW ALL THESE SPECIES FROM THE WALL
PAINTINGS FOUND IN THEIR TOMBS, AS WELL AS THE MANY PAPYRI
FOUND. THEY ARE ALSO MENTIONED BY MANY ANCIENT PHILOSOPHERS,
BOTANISTS AND HISTORIANS, SUCH AS PLATO, HERODOTUS,
THEOPHRASTUS, PLINY, DIOSCORIDES, AND PROSPERO ALPINI.
GARDENS OF ANCIENT EGYPT

FROM WIKIPEDIA, THE FREE ENCYCLOPEDIA

JUMP TO NAVIGATIONJUMP TO SEARCH

RECTANGULAR FISHPOND WITH DUCKS AND LOTUS PLANTED ROUND WITH DATE PALMS AND FRUIT
TREES, IN A FRESCO FROM THE TOMB OF NEBAMUN, THEBES, 18TH DYNASTY

THE GARDENS OF ANCIENT EGYPT BEGAN AS SIMPLE FRUIT ORCHARDS AND VEGETABLE GARDENS,
IRRIGATED WITH WATER FROM THE NILE.

GRADUALLY AS THE COUNTRY BECAME RICHER, THEY EVOLVED INTO PLEASURE GARDENS WITH
FLOWERS, PONDS AND VALLEYS OF FRUIT AND SHADE TREES.

TEMPLES, PALACES, AND PRIVATE RESIDENCES HAD THEIR OWN GARDENS, AND MODELS OF
GARDENS WERE SOMETIMES PLACED IN TOMBS SO THEIR OWNERS COULD ENJOY THEM IN THEIR
AFTERLIFE.[1]

CONTENTS

1 HISTORY

2 PALACE GARDENS

3 PLEASURE GARDENS

4 TEMPLE GARDENS

5 FUNERAL GARDENS

6 TREES AND PLANTS IN THE EGYPTIAN GARDEN

7 PONDS AND POOLS

8 SHADE, COLOR AND AROMA

9 GARDENING IN ANCIENT EGYPT

10 REFERENCES

11 BIBLIOGRAPHY

HISTORY

THE HISTORY AND CHARACTER OF GARDENS IN ANCIENT EGYPT, LIKE ALL ASPECTS OF EGYPTIAN
LIFE, DEPENDED UPON THE NILE, AND THE NETWORK OF CANALS THAT DREW WATER FROM IT.
WATER WAS HOISTED FROM THE NILE IN LEATHER BUCKETS AND CARRIED ON THE SHOULDERS TO
THE GARDENS, AND LATER, BEGINNING IN ABOUT THE 4TH CENTURY B.C., LIFTED FROM WELLS BY
HOISTS WITH COUNTERBALANCING WEIGHTS CALLED SHADOUF IN ARABIC. THE EARLIEST GARDENS
WERE COMPOSED OF PLANTING BEDS DIVIDED INTO SQUARES BY EARTHEN WALLS, SO THE WATER
COULD SOAK INTO THE SOIL RATHER THAN BE LOST. GARDENS BELONGED TO TEMPLES OR THE
RESIDENCES. SECULAR GARDENS WERE LOCATED NEAR THE RIVER OR CANALS AND WERE USED
MAINLY FOR GROWING VEGETABLES. BEGINNING DURING THE NEW KINGDOM, GARDENS WERE
ATTACHED TO MORE LUXURIOUS RESIDENCES AND WERE SOMETIMES ENCLOSED BY WALLS.
TEMPLE GARDENS WERE USED TO RAISE CERTAIN VEGETABLES FOR CEREMONIES,

PALACE GARDENS

 PALACE GARDENS FIRST APPEARED IN EGYPT JUST BEFORE THE MIDDLE EMPIRE (2035–
1668).
 THESE GARDENS WERE VERY LARGE IN SCALE, AND WERE LAID OUT IN GEOMETRIC
PATTERNS.
 THE PONDS OF PALACE GARDENS WERE ENORMOUS AND NUMEROUS. IN THE SECOND
MILLENNIUM BC, THE GARDEN POND OF KING SNEFERU WAS LARGE ENOUGH FOR BOATS
ROWED BY TWENTY OARSMEN.
 THE RULERS OF ANCIENT EGYPT, SUCH AS QUEEN HATSHEPSUT (1503–1482 BC) AND
RAMSES III (1198–1166 BC), USED POTS TO BRING BACK TO EGYPT NEW KINDS OF TREES
AND FLOWERS DISCOVERED DURING THEIR CONQUESTS IN LIBYA, SYRIA, AND CYRENIA.

PLEASURE GARDENS

 BEGINNING DURING THE TIME OF THE NEW KINGDOM, PLEASURE GARDENS BECAME A
COMMON FEATURE OF LUXURY RESIDENCES.
 ACCORDING TO PAINTINGS IN TOMBS IN THEBES FROM THE 18TH DYNASTY (1552–1296 BC),
GARDENS OF THAT TIME HAD A STANDARD DESIGN.
 THEY HAD A POND, USUALLY RECTANGULAR, IN THE CENTER, FILLED WITH COLORFUL FISH,
WITH LOTUS BLOSSOMS IN THE WATER AND FLOWERS AROUND THE EDGES.
 AROUND THE POND WERE SUCCESSIVE ROWS OF TREES, INCLUDING SYCAMORES, PALMS,
AND GRENADIERS, ALTERNATING WITH FLOWER BEDS.
 THE EDGES OF THE WATER BASINS WERE SLOPING, WITH A STAIRWAY DOWN ONE SIDE SO
GARDENERS COULD COLLECT WATER FOR IRRIGATION.[3]
 THE POND WAS OFTEN SURROUNDED BY WALLS OR COLUMNS SUPPORTING GRAPEVINES.
THE WALLS AND COLUMNS WERE DECORATED WITH COLORFUL PAINTINGS OF PEOPLE,
ANIMALS, AND PLANTS SUCH AS THE POPPY AND ROSE.

TEMPLE GARDENS

GARDENS OF AMUN FROM THE TEMPLE OF KARNAK, MURAL IN THE TOMB OF NAKH, THE CHIEF
GARDENER, EARLY 14TH CENTURY BC. (ROYAL MUSEUM OF ART AND HISTORY, BRUSSELS)
  TEMPLES OFTEN HAD EXTENSIVE GARDENS.
 THE TEMPLE OF AMUN AT KARNAK HAD TWENTY-SIX KITCHEN GARDENS, ALONGSIDE A
VERY EARLY BOTANICAL GARDEN, WHICH, ACCORDING TO AN INSCRIPTION, CONTAINED
"ALL KINDS OF BEAUTIFUL FLOWERS AND BIZARRE PLANTS WHICH ARE FOUND IN THE
DIVINE LAND WHICH HIS MAJESTY HAS CONQUERED."
 THE HYMNS PAINTED ON THE WALLS OF TOMBS SHOW THAT RELIGIOUS CEREMONIES
CENTERED ON THE CYCLES OF NATURE AND THE CHANGING SEASONS.
 TEMPLE GARDENS OFTEN HAD ROWS OF FIG TREES AND SYCAMORES (THE TREE SACRED TO
THE GODDESS HATHOR), TAMARIS, WILLOWS, OR PALM TREES.
 ROWS OF TREES SOMETIMES STRETCHED FOR SEVERAL KILOMETERS, CONNECTING SEVERAL
TEMPLES.
 THE TEMPLES THEMSELVES HAD ESPLANADES PLANTED WITH TREES.
 WHEN ROWS OF TREES WERE PLANTED FAR FROM THE RIVER, WELLS HAD TO BE DUG TEN
METERS DEEP TO REACH WATER FOR IRRIGATION.
 DURING THE TIME OF AMENOPHIS III, SOME TEMPLES WERE DEVOTED TO A GODDESS IN
THE FORM OF A TREE, WITH A TRUNK FOR A BODY AND BRANCHES FOR ARMS.
 THIS GODDESS WAS BELIEVED TO CARRY WATER TO THE DEAD TO QUENCH THEIR THIRST.
 TEMPLE GARDENS OFTEN WERE THE HOMES OF ANIMALS SACRED TO THE GODS, SUCH AS
THE IBIS AND THE BABOON.
 FLOWERS WERE PART OF ALL THE RELIGIOUS CEREMONIES DURING THE TIME OF THE GOD
AMON.
 THESE GARDENS ALSO PRODUCED MEDICINAL HERBS AND SPICES SUCH AS CUMIN,
MARJORAM, ANISE, AND CORIANDER.

FUNERAL GARDENS

 A FUNERARY MODEL OF A GARDEN, DATING TO THE ELEVENTH DYNASTY OF EGYPT, CIRCA

2009–1998 BC. MADE OF PAINTED AND GESSOED WOOD, ORIGINALLY FROM THEBES.
 FUNERAL GARDENS WERE MINIATURE VERSIONS OF HOUSE GARDENS THAT WERE PLACED
IN TOMBS.
 THEY USUALLY HAD A SMALL SQUARE HOUSE OR PAVILION WITH WOODEN COLUMNS,
SURROUNDED BY A WALL, WITHIN THE WALL WAS A BASIN SURROUNDED BY A ROW OF
TREES.
 THE HOUSE RESEMBLED THE KIOSKS IN GARDENS, WHERE THE OWNER WOULD PLAY
CHECKERS OR RELAX.
 THE DEAD WERE TRADITIONALLY SURROUNDED BY THE OBJECTS THEY WOULD HAVE
ENJOYED IN LIFE, AND IT WAS EXPECTED THAT THEY WOULD CONTINUE TO ENJOY THEIR
GARDENS IN THEIR AFTERLIFE.
 THE INSCRIPTION OF ONE TOMB SAID: "YOU PROMENADE AT YOUR EASE BY THE LOVELY
BANK OF YOUR POND; YOUR HEART REJOICES FROM YOUR TREES AND IS REFRESHED UNDER
YOUR SYCAMORES; YOUR HEART IS SATISFIED BY THE WATER FROM YOUR WELLS THAT YOU
MADE SO THAT THEY WOULD LAST FOREVER.

TREES AND PLANTS IN THE EGYPTIAN GARDEN

TREES WERE USED IN THE GARDENS TO PRODUCE FRUIT AND FOR SHADE. NINETEEN DIFFERENT
SPECIES OF TREES WERE FOUND IN THE GARDENS OF INENI, THE ARCHITECT TO THE PHARAOH
THUTMOSE I (1504–1492 B.C.). THE PINK FLOWERED TAMARISK, ACACIA AND WILLOW TREES WERE
COMMON IN GARDENS. THE SYCAMORE (FICUS SYCOMORUS) AND TAMARISK TREES WERE
SOMETIMES PLANTED IN FRONT OF TEMPLES, AS THEY WERE AT THE TEMPLE OF NEBHEPETRA,
FROM THE 11TH CENTURY BC.

THE ANCIENT EGYPTIANS CULTIVATED FICUS SYCOMORUS FROM PREDYNASTIC TIMES, AND IN
QUANTITY FROM THE START OF THE THIRD MILLENNIUM BCE. IT WAS BELIEVED TO BE THE ANCIENT
EGYPTIAN TREE OF LIFE, PLANTED ON THE THRESHOLD BETWEEN LIFE AND DEATH.[9] ZOHARY AND
HOPF NOTE THAT "THE FRUIT AND THE TIMBER, AND SOMETIMES EVEN THE TWIGS, ARE RICHLY
REPRESENTED IN THE TOMBS OF THE EGYPTIAN EARLY, MIDDLE AND LATE KINGDOMS."[10] SOME
OF THE CASKETS OF MUMMIES IN EGYPT ARE MADE FROM THE WOOD OF THIS TREE.

THE MOST COMMON FRUIT TREES WERE DATE PALMS, FIG TREES AND DOUM PALMS (HYPHAENE
THEBAICA). THE PERSEA TREE WAS CONSIDERED SACRED, AND WAS FOUND IN BOTH TEMPLE
GARDENS AND RESIDENTIAL GARDENS. THE POMEGRANATE TREE WAS INTRODUCED DURING THE
NEW KINGDOM, AND WAS PRIZED FOR ITS AROMA AND COLOR. OTHER FRUITS GROWN IN THE
GARDENS WERE JUJUBE, OLIVES, AND PEACHES. VEGETABLES WERE GROWN FOR FOOD OR FOR
CEREMONIES. COS LETTUCE WAS CONSIDERED SACRED AND WAS CONNECTED WITH MIN, THE
DEITY OF REPRODUCTION, AND WAS BELIEVED TO BE A POWERFUL APHRODISIAC. GRAPES WERE
USED TO MAKE RAISINS AND WINE. TOMB PAINTINGS SHOW THAT GRAPE VINES WERE SOMETIMES
PLANTED ATOP PERGOLAS TO PROVIDE SHADE TO THE GARDEN. FLOWERS WERE RAISED IN
GARDENS TO MAKE DECORATIVE BOUQUETS AND FOR USE IN RELIGIOUS CEREMONIES. COMMON
GARDEN FLOWERS WERE THE MANDRAKE AND THE DAISY, CHRYSANTHEMUM, ANEMONE, AND
POPPY, JASMINE, AND THE ROSE.

EGYPTIAN PONDS AND BASINS WERE OFTEN DECORATED WHITE AND BLUE LOTUS (NYMPHAEA
CAERULEA) AND WITH PAPYRUS.

THE DATE PALM, USED BY THE ANCIENT EGYPTIANS BOTH AS A FOOD AND FOR MAKING WINE. THE
EGYPTIANS LEARNED TO POLLINATE THE TREES BY HAND.

THE PERSEA INDICA TREE, IN THE SAME FAMILY AS THE AVOCADO, ONCE COMMON IN EGYPT, HAS
VANISHED THERE BUT CAN STILL BE FOUND IN THE AZORES AND CANARY ISLANDS.

THE SYCAMORE (FICUS SYCOMORUS) WAS OFTEN PLANTED FOR SHADE. IT WAS ALSO OFTEN
PLANTED AT TEMPLES, AND ITS WOOD WAS USED FOR MAKING COFFINS FOR MUMMIES.

TAMARISK TREE, USED FOR SHADE

THE MANDRAKE (MANDRAGORA OFFICINARUM),  ALONG WITH THE LOTUS FLOWER, WAS ONE OF
THE MAIN HALLUCINOGENIC SPECIES, AS IT CONTAINS AN ALKALOID, THE ATROPINE.
THE ACACIA TREE WAS ASSOCIATED WITH IUSAASET, THE PRIMAL GODDESS OF EGYPTIAN
MYTHOLOGY.

FRUIT OF THE POMEGRANATE TREE, INTRODUCED DURING THE NEW KINGDOM, USED AS A
MEDICINE AGAINST TAPEWORM VARIOUS INFECTIONS.[11]

BLUE EGYPTIAN LOTUS, FOUND IN GARDEN PONDS

CYPERUS PAPYRUS WAS USED AS A WRITING MATERIAL, FOR MAKING BOATS, AND EVEN EATEN.

PONDS AND POOLS

PONDS AND POOLS WERE A COMMON FEATURE OF THE RESIDENTIAL GARDENS OF THE WEALTHY
AND POWERFUL OF ANCIENT EGYPT, AND ARE SHOWN IN A NUMBER OF TOMB PAINTINGS.
SOMETIMES, AS IN THE GARDEN OF HATSHEPSUT’S MORTUARY TEMPLE AT DEIR EL-BAHRI, THE
POND WAS IN THE SHAPE OF A T, WITH ONE PART OF THE T CONNECTED TO A RIVER OR CANAL. THE
WATER WAS USUALLY HOISTED INTO THE POND FROM THE RIVER BY HAND, OR USING A SHADOUF.
FISH FOR FOOD AND ORNAMENT WERE RAISED IN THE PONDS. THEY ALSO WERE THE HOME OF
MIGRATING WATER BIRDS.

FLOWERS SUCH AS WHITE AND BLUE LOTUS WERE GROWN IN THE PONDS FOR DECORATION AND
FOR CEREMONIES, AND PAPYRUS WAS KNOWN TO GROW AT DEIR EL-BAHRI.[12] LATER, DURING
THE PERSIAN OCCUPATION OF EGYPT, THE PINK LOTUS WAS INTRODUCED.

SHADE, COLOR AND AROMA

SHADE WAS AN IMPORTANT FEATURE OF THE GARDEN, PROVIDED BY TREES AND BY GRAPEVINES
SUPPORTED BETWEEN COLUMNS. DESCRIBING THESE GARDENS, SHAW AND NICHOLSON WROTE:
"THE OVERALL EFFECT WOULD HAVE BEEN ONE OF COOL SHADE, HEAVY WITH THE FRAGRANCE OF
THE FLOWERS AND THE TREES. GARDENS ARE THEREFORE ONE OF THE MOST FREQUENT SETTINGS
OF EGYPTIAN ROMANTIC TALES."[12]

GARDENS OF AMUN AT THE TEMPLE OF KARNAK, A MURAL IN THE TOMB OF NAKH, THE CHIEF
GARDENER, EARLY 14TH CENTURY BC

GARDENING IN ANCIENT EGYPT

GARDENING IN ANCIENT EGYPT WAS VERY HARD WORK; GARDENS REQUIRED CONSTANT
IRRIGATION, WITH WATER CARRIED OR LIFTED BY HAND, WEEDING, AND TENDING, INCLUDING THE
ARTIFICIAL PROPAGATION OF DATE PALMS, WHICH REQUIRED GREAT SKILL. GREAT EFFORT WAS
ALSO NEEDED TO KEEP BIRDS FROM EATING THE CROPS. INGENIOUS TRAPS WERE SET TO CATCH
THE INVADING BIRDS.[13]