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Wadi Tumilat

Wadi Tumilat (Old Egyptian Tjeku/Tscheku/Tju/Tschu) is the 50-kilometre-long (31 mi) dry river valley (wadi) to the east of the Nile Delta. In prehistory, it was a distributary of the Nile. It starts near the modern town of Zagazig and the ancient town of Bubastis and goes east to the area of modern Ismaïlia.

Canal of the Pharaohs, that followed Wadi Tumilat

In ancient times, this was a major communication artery for caravan trade between Egypt and points to the east. The Canal of the Pharaohs was built there. A little water still flows along the wadi.[1] The current Sweet Water Canal also flows along the wadi.

The Arabic name "Wadi Tumilat" is believed to reflect the existence in the area, in ancient times, of an important temple of the god Atum (Old Egyptian pr-itm, 'House of Atum', changed over time into 'Tumilat', as well as into 'Pithom').[2]

The old name of the valley is Wadi as-Sadir (Arabic: وادي السدير), which is also "the land of Goshen" in the Arabic translation of the Pentateuch.[3]

Archaeology edit

Wadi Tumilat in hieroglyphs





Wadi Tumilat has the ruins of several ancient settlements. The earliest site excavated is that of Kafr Hassan Dawood, which dates from the Predynastic period to the Early Dynastic Period.[4] Late in the New Kingdom of Egypt period, there was a well fortified site at Tell el-Retabah. But then, in the Saite Dynasty period, the major settlement and fort were moved east to Tell el-Maskhuta, only 12 km (7.5 mi) to the east.[5]

Necho II (610–595 BC) initiated—but may have never completed—the ambitious project of cutting a navigable canal from the Pelusiac branch of the Nile to the Red Sea. Necho's Canal was the earliest precursor of the Suez Canal, and it went through Wadi Tumilat.[6] It was in connection with a new activity that Necho founded a new city of Per-Temu Tjeku which translates as 'The House of Atum of Tjeku' at Tell el-Maskhuta.[7]

Around 1820, Muhammad Ali of Egypt, the Ottoman Governor of Egypt, brought 500 Syrians to the Wadi and equipped them with animals and labor to construct 1,000 sakias for the cultivation of mulberry trees for sericulture. The irrigation system was repaired by cleaning and deepening the existing canals. Labor was provided by forcing peasants to work.[8][9]

Tell Shaqafiya in the Wadi is also associated with the Canal and its operation.

The site of Tell el Gebel is mostly of the Roman period.

In 1930, a team from the German Institute in Cairo conducted a survey of Wadi Tumilat. Later on, some Hyksos tombs were also discovered in the area at Tell es-Sahaba.[10]

 
Wadi Tumilat

Wadi Tumilat Project edit

Modern excavations at Tell el-Maskhuta were carried out by the University of Toronto "Wadi Tumilat Project" under the direction of John S. Holladay Jr. They worked over five seasons between 1978 and 1985.

As many as 35 sites of archaeological significance have been identified in the Wadi. The three large tells in the Wadi are Tell el-Maskhuta, Tell er-Retabah, and Tell Shaqafiya.

Tell er-Retabah has been investigated by the archaeologist Hans Goedicke of Johns Hopkins University.[11]

Biblical references edit

 
William H. Seward's travels around the world (1873) (14598126840)

There are several biblical references to the area of Wadi Tumilat. For example, the ancient Pithom is believed to be here.

The western end of the Wadi Tumilat is identified as part of the Land of Goshen.

Wadi Tumilat—an arable strip of land serving as the ancient transit route between Egypt and Canaan across the Sinai Peninsula—is also seen by scholars as the biblical "Way of Shur".[12]

Biblical scholar Edouard Naville identified the area of Wadi Tumilat as Sukkot (Tjeku), the 8th Lower Egypt nome. This location is also mentioned in the Bible.

See also edit

Notes edit

  1. ^ Egypt’s Storied Wadi Tumilat GeoCurrents website
  2. ^ James K. Hoffmeier, Ancient Israel in Sinai: The Evidence for the Authenticity of the Wilderness Tradition. Oxford University Press, 2005 ISBN 0198035403
  3. ^ Al-Maqrīzī. Book of Exhortations and Useful Lessons in Dealing with Topography and Historical Remains. Translated by Stowasser, Karl. Hans A. Stowasser. p. 233.
  4. ^ F. Hassan and G. J. Tassie, Kafr Hassan Dawood.
  5. ^ Kathryn A. Bard, An Introduction to the Archaeology of Ancient Egypt. Blackwell Pub., 2008
  6. ^ Redmount, Carol A. "The Wadi Tumilat and the "Canal of the Pharaohs"" Journal of Near Eastern Studies, Vol. 54, No. 2 (April , 1995), pp. 127-135
  7. ^ Shaw, Ian; and Nicholson, Paul. The Dictionary of Ancient Egypt. The British Museum Press, 1995. p.201
  8. ^ Cuno, M., Kenneth (1980): The Origins of Private Ownership of Land in Egypt: A Reappraisal. Cambridge University Press, International Journal of Middle East Studies, Vol. 12, No. 3 (Nov., 1980), pp.245-275
  9. ^ Owen, E.R.J. (1969): Cotton and the Egyptian Economy, Oxford University Press, Oxford 1969
  10. ^ Encyclopedia of the Archaeology of Ancient Egypt, edited by Kathryn A. Bard. Routledge, 1999 ISBN 0203982835
  11. ^ Hans Goedicke - excavations at Tell er-Retaba St. Louis Community College
  12. ^ Israel: Ancient Kingdom Or Late Invention? Daniel Isaac Block, ed. B&H Publishing Group, 2008 ISBN 0805446796

Bibliography edit

  • Carol A. Redmount, The Wadi Tumilat and the "Canal of the Pharaohs" Journal of Near Eastern Studies, Vol. 54, No. 2 (Apr., 1995), pp. 127–135 The University of Chicago Press
  • Ellen-Fowles Morris: The architecture of imperialism - Military bases and the evolution of foreign policy in Egypt's New Kingdom. Brill, Leiden 2005, ISBN 90-04-14036-0.
  • Alan Gardiner: The Delta Residence of the Ramessides, IV In: Journal of Egyptian Archaeology Nr. 5, 1918, S. 242-271.
  • Edouard Naville: The store-city of Pithom and The route of the Exodus. Trübner, London 1903.
  • Herbert Donner: Geschichte des Volkes Israel und seiner Nachbarn in Grundzügen - Teil 1. Vandenhoeck & Ruprecht, Göttingen 2007, ISBN 978-3-525-51679-9, S. 102-103.
  • Jacques-Marie Le Père: Mémoire sur la communication de la mer des Indes à la Méditerranée par la mer Rouge et l'Isthme de Sueys. In Description de l'Égypte, État moderne I. Imprimerie Impériale, Paris 1809, S. 21 - 186, (in Volume 11, État Moderne, 2. Auflage, Digitalisat auf Google Bücher).

External links edit

  • Tell el-Retaba - Egyptian citadel in Wadi Toumilat Instytut Archeologii UW - Warsaw
  • The Wadi Tumilat (Toumilat) in the Ancient Near East

30°32′58″N 31°57′49″E / 30.5494°N 31.9636°E / 30.5494; 31.9636

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Wadi Tumilat Old Egyptian Tjeku Tscheku Tju Tschu is the 50 kilometre long 31 mi dry river valley wadi to the east of the Nile Delta In prehistory it was a distributary of the Nile It starts near the modern town of Zagazig and the ancient town of Bubastis and goes east to the area of modern Ismailia Canal of the Pharaohs that followed Wadi TumilatIn ancient times this was a major communication artery for caravan trade between Egypt and points to the east The Canal of the Pharaohs was built there A little water still flows along the wadi 1 The current Sweet Water Canal also flows along the wadi The Arabic name Wadi Tumilat is believed to reflect the existence in the area in ancient times of an important temple of the god Atum Old Egyptian pr itm House of Atum changed over time into Tumilat as well as into Pithom 2 The old name of the valley is Wadi as Sadir Arabic وادي السدير which is also the land of Goshen in the Arabic translation of the Pentateuch 3 Contents 1 Archaeology 1 1 Wadi Tumilat Project 2 Biblical references 3 See also 4 Notes 5 Bibliography 6 External linksArchaeology editWadi Tumilat in hieroglyphsWadi Tumilat has the ruins of several ancient settlements The earliest site excavated is that of Kafr Hassan Dawood which dates from the Predynastic period to the Early Dynastic Period 4 Late in the New Kingdom of Egypt period there was a well fortified site at Tell el Retabah But then in the Saite Dynasty period the major settlement and fort were moved east to Tell el Maskhuta only 12 km 7 5 mi to the east 5 Necho II 610 595 BC initiated but may have never completed the ambitious project of cutting a navigable canal from the Pelusiac branch of the Nile to the Red Sea Necho s Canal was the earliest precursor of the Suez Canal and it went through Wadi Tumilat 6 It was in connection with a new activity that Necho founded a new city of Per Temu Tjeku which translates as The House of Atum of Tjeku at Tell el Maskhuta 7 Around 1820 Muhammad Ali of Egypt the Ottoman Governor of Egypt brought 500 Syrians to the Wadi and equipped them with animals and labor to construct 1 000 sakias for the cultivation of mulberry trees for sericulture The irrigation system was repaired by cleaning and deepening the existing canals Labor was provided by forcing peasants to work 8 9 Tell Shaqafiya in the Wadi is also associated with the Canal and its operation The site of Tell el Gebel is mostly of the Roman period In 1930 a team from the German Institute in Cairo conducted a survey of Wadi Tumilat Later on some Hyksos tombs were also discovered in the area at Tell es Sahaba 10 nbsp Wadi TumilatWadi Tumilat Project edit Modern excavations at Tell el Maskhuta were carried out by the University of Toronto Wadi Tumilat Project under the direction of John S Holladay Jr They worked over five seasons between 1978 and 1985 As many as 35 sites of archaeological significance have been identified in the Wadi The three large tells in the Wadi are Tell el Maskhuta Tell er Retabah and Tell Shaqafiya Tell er Retabah has been investigated by the archaeologist Hans Goedicke of Johns Hopkins University 11 Biblical references edit nbsp William H Seward s travels around the world 1873 14598126840 There are several biblical references to the area of Wadi Tumilat For example the ancient Pithom is believed to be here The western end of the Wadi Tumilat is identified as part of the Land of Goshen Wadi Tumilat an arable strip of land serving as the ancient transit route between Egypt and Canaan across the Sinai Peninsula is also seen by scholars as the biblical Way of Shur 12 Biblical scholar Edouard Naville identified the area of Wadi Tumilat as Sukkot Tjeku the 8th Lower Egypt nome This location is also mentioned in the Bible See also editDarius the Great s Suez InscriptionsNotes edit Egypt s Storied Wadi Tumilat GeoCurrents website James K Hoffmeier Ancient Israel in Sinai The Evidence for the Authenticity of the Wilderness Tradition Oxford University Press 2005 ISBN 0198035403 Al Maqrizi Book of Exhortations and Useful Lessons in Dealing with Topography and Historical Remains Translated by Stowasser Karl Hans A Stowasser p 233 F Hassan and G J Tassie Kafr Hassan Dawood Kathryn A Bard An Introduction to the Archaeology of Ancient Egypt Blackwell Pub 2008 Redmount Carol A The Wadi Tumilat and the Canal of the Pharaohs Journal of Near Eastern Studies Vol 54 No 2 April 1995 pp 127 135 Shaw Ian and Nicholson Paul The Dictionary of Ancient Egypt The British Museum Press 1995 p 201 Cuno M Kenneth 1980 The Origins of Private Ownership of Land in Egypt A Reappraisal Cambridge University Press International Journal of Middle East Studies Vol 12 No 3 Nov 1980 pp 245 275 Owen E R J 1969 Cotton and the Egyptian Economy Oxford University Press Oxford 1969 Encyclopedia of the Archaeology of Ancient Egypt edited by Kathryn A Bard Routledge 1999 ISBN 0203982835 Hans Goedicke excavations at Tell er Retaba St Louis Community College Israel Ancient Kingdom Or Late Invention Daniel Isaac Block ed B amp H Publishing Group 2008 ISBN 0805446796Bibliography editCarol A Redmount The Wadi Tumilat and the Canal of the Pharaohs Journal of Near Eastern Studies Vol 54 No 2 Apr 1995 pp 127 135 The University of Chicago Press Ellen Fowles Morris The architecture of imperialism Military bases and the evolution of foreign policy in Egypt s New Kingdom Brill Leiden 2005 ISBN 90 04 14036 0 Alan Gardiner The Delta Residence of the Ramessides IV In Journal of Egyptian Archaeology Nr 5 1918 S 242 271 Edouard Naville The store city of Pithom and The route of the Exodus Trubner London 1903 Herbert Donner Geschichte des Volkes Israel und seiner Nachbarn in Grundzugen Teil 1 Vandenhoeck amp Ruprecht Gottingen 2007 ISBN 978 3 525 51679 9 S 102 103 Jacques Marie Le Pere Memoire sur la communication de la mer des Indes a la Mediterranee par la mer Rouge et l Isthme de Sueys In Description de l Egypte Etat moderne I Imprimerie Imperiale Paris 1809 S 21 186 in Volume 11 Etat Moderne 2 Auflage Digitalisat auf Google Bucher External links editTell el Retaba Egyptian citadel in Wadi Toumilat Instytut Archeologii UW Warsaw The Wadi Tumilat Toumilat in the Ancient Near East30 32 58 N 31 57 49 E 30 5494 N 31 9636 E 30 5494 31 9636 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Wadi Tumilat amp oldid 1145149865, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

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