Introduction

Nothing formed ancient Egyptian culture and religion more than its landscapes. From the Nile River to the harsh Eastern and Western deserts, the swampy Delta, and the fertile Nile Valley, the varied landscapes within and surrounding Egypt influenced ancient Egyptian thought in every way possible. Deities represented specific aspects of landscapes, while creation myths reflected an annual environmental cycle. Pharaonic Egypt was, and continues to be, an oasis in the Sahara Desert. Seeing Egyptian landscapes as an integrated whole, however, is something that has only recently begun to capture the interest of Egyptologists and archaeologists in contrast to the longer trajectory of Egyptology. Ancient Egyptian landscapes cannot and should not be considered unto themselves; they need to be evaluated through landscape use, development, and modernization, the latter of which is devastating ancient Egyptian landscapes more than any other single issue.

This chapter examines ancient Egyptian landscapes through a broad scope, focusing on specific case studies per region rather than attempting to discuss every facet of ancient Egyptian landscapes chronologically. Each case study covers a sub-period (c.3000 bc-800 ad) and will be based on an archaeological site or region in the Delta, Nile Valley, Fayum, Luxor, Sinai, and Western/Eastern deserts. A number of modern issues, including urbanization and looting, will be discussed in terms of their effects on sites throughout Egypt.

Why is Egyptology not as well-known for the study of its ancient landscapes, like other regions of the ancient Near East? For example, McAdams’ survey work in the 1960s laid the groundwork for the entire field of ancient Near Eastern Landscape Archaeology (McAdams 1981). Other Mediterranean landscape studies either ignore Egypt or only mention it in passing (Alcock and Cherry 2004: 3-9; Wilkinson 2003a). This is changing, with the inclusion of Egyptian landscape studies in forthcoming Egyptology books, conference volumes, and in university courses. Egypt’s landscapes, ironically, were the very thing that discouraged their detailed study. Initial voyages of discovery discussed Egyptian landscapes in great detail, yet focused primarily on tombs, temples, and related monuments. Monumental remains attracted people to excavate in Egypt, but the beauty of her modern landscape invited archaeologists to return each season. It would take roughly 170 years for archaeologists to start conceptualizing ancient Egypt sites in their broader contexts.