Variety and vitality of boats in ancient Egypt

Types of boats of Ancient Egypt

The various types of boats of ancient Egypt are known from the relief depicted on the walls of the tombs and temples, as well as from the remains of true vessels and models which have been discovered. They fall into two overall categories.

Boats of everyday use

These were used for Nile transport, for example, of huge blocks of stone from the granite quarries of Aswan to their place of setting up as monuments throughout the river valley. The drawings of Hatshepsut's temple at "Deir el- Bahri" at "Luxor" show two huge granite obelisks, each hewn from a simple piece of stone, being carried down river. But boats were also used on seas, for instance the transfer of goods imported from other seas. Vessels formed of bound papyrus stems were preferred for fishing in the marshes of the Delta, as in invariably shown on tomb walls, but wooden boats were used for funerary purposes, to carry the pharaoh's body in his pilgrimage to the holy places and from the worldly abode to his place of burial.

Divine Boats:

These were symbolic vessels used as either a divine bark and placed in the holy of holies of the temple for the statue of god and carried on priests' shoulder on visits to other temples or solar boats figuratively used by the deceased accompanying the solar god and other gods in their trip to the other world. This type of boat is found painted on the walls of the temples and particularly of the royal tombs, but is also represented among the tomb's funerary furniture, to help the deceased in his journey to the after- life.

Cheops boat and its wonderful museum

Cheops Boat

The discovery of the Cheops Boat stands as one of the most important archeological finds in Egypt – and in the world- in modern times, since the discovery of the tomb of "Tutankhamun". Its inherent importance lies in the face that this is most ancient vessel found in perfect condition anywhere in the world and in an astonishing state of preservation after more than 45 centuries hidden under the sands of the "Giza" plateau.

There are two diverging concepts among archaeologist about the function and nature of the Cheops Boat. Some believe that it was a " Solar boat intended for use by the deceased pharaoh in his eternal life when, united with the solar god Re, he made his eternal journey across the sky from east to west by day and from west to east at night, illuminating the worlds of both living and dead. According to the story , the pharaoh needed two boats for his journey , one for day, the other for night. The other theory is that this was a funerary boat, actually used to carry the body of the late pharaoh in his pilgrimage to "Abydos" and the Cenotaph of the god "Osiris" before burial in the pyramid. Two boats would also be needed on this Journey, one to sail south, to Abydos , and another to return to the north for burial at Gizeh. In this case the boats would differ, one needing oars, the other sails.

Cheops Boat Museum

After the discovery of the boat, it was necessary to build a museum over the pit in which it had been found, it is designed to complement the vessel in both size and shape, and to take advantage of all of the latest advances in modern display methods, in order that the visitor can view it from all sides. The project wad designed with an outer shell of steel – reinforced concrete and the façade of transparent glass to make it complement its stern surroundings as well as to conceal its vast size and unusual shape. The use of glass also served the purpose of allowing the visitor a visual link with the nearby pyramid, removing any scene of isolation from the archeological site. The glass is double – glazed in massive style – each pane is 8 cm thick and the air - space a further 8 cm, giving a total thickness of 24 cm to insulate the interior from both heat and noise outside. The museum is also air conditioned, with temperature and humidity both controlled to maintain the unique vessel in perfect condition.

The main design of the museum

Designed in the shape of a huge boat itself to suit the nature of the artifact it contains, the museum has the Cheops Boat centrally located in its internal space, both horizontally and vertically, as well as housing the pit in which the vessel was found. This is one of the main elements of the display allowing the visitor a comprehensive impression of how the boat was preserved down the years. Also in the designer's mind was the fact that the museum should be capable of being extended to incorporate the second boat, when it is eventually revealed. The boat is surrounded by terraces on different levels, to allow the visitor to examine all its various details from below, above and all sides, including directly underneath. The terraces are so placed that an overall view of all aspects might be gained from a single continuing walk around the exhibit. The lower parts of the museum's exterior walls are covered with mud –brick, as an added insulation against the sun's heat, and on the interior the lower walls are faced with concrete slabs to increase the efficacy of the air conditioning and a fire – extinguishing system, and all the electrical circuits laid on when it was originally built have recently been isolated from the mains supply as an additional safety factor.

Lighting of the museum

It is generally accepted that for best results museums should have their objects displayed on the walls, with natural lighting from above. But this museum has a special and even unique nature, as the only one in the world intended to display a single object alone – an ancient boat 43.4 m in length and 7 m high – with the result that in both appearance and construction it differs from all others, breaking all the usual design rules.

Long experience has proved that artificial light, even if all possible precautions are taken, will have some effect on museum objects, and since the wood of the boat is so very ancient it has been decided to depend completely on natural lighting. All artificial lighting has been removed, and all electrical circuits throughout the display rooms cut off as an additional safeguard.

Reference: From the book, Museum of Cheops boat

Abu Simbel and the miracle of the sun

The temple of Abu Simbel is an exact transferal of the architectural formOf an Egyptian inner sanctuary temple cut deep inside the rock. Sculpted into the mountain, the façade is 38 meters long and 31 high. This is framed by a convex "torus " moulding , and is surmounted by a cornice with uraei (the sacred asp) above which is carved a row of 22 seated baboons , each two and a half meters high. Below the torus moulding is a cornice engraved with dedicatory hieroglyphics, and in a niche below this in the middle of the façade is a large high – relief statue representing Ra- Harakhati with a falcon's head flanked by two – relief figures of Ramses II. Four colossal statues of Ramses II seated form the supporting columns of the façade. Even on this monumental scale they produce the true features of the monarch. They are 20 meters high and measure more than 4 from ear to ear, while the lips, measuring over a meter, express a soft, gentle smile. The pharaoh is represented with his hands resting in his lap wearing the double crown and a headdress with deep folds on either side of his face. The second statue on the left is broken and part of the head and body lie on the ground. Beside and between the legs of each colossus are other statues representing members of the royal family including a daughter (who was also his wife) Bent'anat , his mother Tuya , his wife Nefertari , his son Amenhirkhopshef, and another daughter and wife, Merytamun. On the base and along the sides of the seats are figures of African and Asiatic prisoners. A multitude of workers imprisoned by his sword "worked on the monumental façade under the orders of Pyay , head of the sculptures , as we read inside the temple. The work of the sculptures was followed by that of the painters for, at the time of Ramses, the temple was most probably richly painted and decorated

The interior

On passing to the interior, the shadowy light emphasizes the mysterious and evocative atmosphere. The "pronaos" is a vast rectangular hall 18 meters long and 16.70 wide. This is flanked by eight Osiris pillars ten meters tall arranged in two rows, representing Osiris with the features of Ramses. The colossi on the left wear the white crown of Upper Egypt, those on the right, the "pschent" or double crown. Their arms, crossed over their chests, hold the scepter and flail. Decorating the roof of the central nave is the great vulture of the goddess Nekhbet, protrectress of Upper Egypt, while the aisles on either side are painted with stars.

Sanctuary and the miracle of the sun
Sixty – five meters from the entrance, deep in the heart of the mountain, is a sanctuary, the most intimate and secret part of the temple, a small room four meters by seven. Here sits the statue of the deified Ramses II together with the triad of "Ptah", "Amoun-Ra" and "Harmakhis".
It was obvious ever since discovery in the 19th century that nothing in this temple was left to chance and that it was built according to a very precise logic and pre-established plan.
Francois Champollion was the first of several scholars to note what has become known as the "miracle of the sun".
"Abu Simbel" was built along a pre- determined axis: twice a year, corresponding to the equinoxes, the rising sun penetrates the heart of the mountain and illuminates the statues in the sanctuary. The first rays of the sun follow the axis of the temple precisely, crossing its entire length and gradually flooding the statues of "Amon", "Harmakhis" and the pharaoh in light. It takes about twenty minutes for the light to pass, yet remarkably Ptah is never struck by the sun's rays. Ptah is, in fact, the god of darkness and the dead.

pharaonic village: A living Museum

Take a step back in time; about three thousand years back, to be exact. Just a few miles from the center of Cairo is a time machine waiting to take you on a fantastic journey to the days of the Pharaohs, a time brought to life by an incredible group of actors and actresses, faithful and exact reproductions of buildings, clothing, and lifestyles; and of course, the redoubtable Dr. Hassan Ragab and his son Dr. Abdelsalam Ragab. They have worked for over twenty years to create the most precise living recreation of the golden days of Pharaonic Egypt, and now he invites you to join him on this fascinating journey to the past.

At the Pharaonic Village, visitors sail on comfortable motorized barges down a network of canals and view incredibly accurate tableaux of the recreation of ancient Egyptian life. Though the city of Cairo surrounds the island, not a trace of it penetrates the thick wall of trees planted around the island. Sights include recreations of industries, games, arts, and moments from history and legend. Services such as cafeterias, boat rentals, a children's playground and a restaurant that serves both Egyptian and European dishes help to make your stay even more enjoyable.
The Pharaoh and His Court Greet You at the Temple
The temple above is only one example of the exacting details that have gone into making the past come to life at the Pharaonic Village. Over a hundred actors and actresses perform all the daily activities and arts of the ancient Egyptians, including agriculture, pottery, sculpture, weaving, and much more. Everyone that would have existed in an ancient Egyptian city is here in the modern recreation, from pharaohs to fishermen, from potters to priests. Because of this attention to detail, the Pharaonic Village is more than education and entertainment, it is a vital resource in the preservation of our knowledge of the ancient world.
The Pharaonic Village is a must-see for any visitor to Egypt, whether scholar of Egyptian history and culture, or casual tourist. It is an excellent complement to a trip before going to Aswan and Luxor, but just as awe-inspiring and enjoyable in and of itself. Come with us on a journey through time to the rich and exciting age of the pharaohs.

Reference: pharaonic Village, A living Museum by Dr. Regab