When we think of ancient Egypt, the great pyramids, sharp paint tombs, and royal temples come to mind. And of course – Nile! But beyond the river, and the great monuments of the stone – the lush and fragrant world of gardens, trees, flowers and plants grew. The gifts of greenery and mother -in -law played a surprising role in the dreams of daily life, religious practice, royal power and later life.
The matter of love with nature
In a land where the wide desert met the living Neil, the gardens and the green places were not just beautiful-they were an important sign of discipline, prosperity and divine blessing. Everything was in meaningful, the Egyptians believed that perfect The balance between chaos and harmony (which they called ma’at) The cultivated scenes reflected in. (And of course, they were the victims of life – not death – that’s why they wanted it to continue forever!)
Nabmin Garden, Baba Tomb City, C.1350 BC, 18th Family, Paint on Plaster, 64 cm Height, Thabus, Egypt © British Museum Trustees
The gardens provided shade, food, medicine, aroma and spiritual symbol. They were installed around the temples, private houses of the wealthy and inside the courtyards of the palace. Even God was thought to be in a bad, fragrant places. To create a garden, in many ways, to imitate the paradise of creation.
Were like the ancient Egyptian gardens
For ancient, the perfect garden was a rectangular place, surrounded by midbrick walls, with walkways Flink long ponds full of blue palms. Palm trees and psychomores Wake up along the edges, and History or fig tree offers shade. Beds carefully have vegetables and fragrant herbs. These were the gardens of the chiefs and the priests – the saints of life and reflection.
Gardens can be active, decorated or sacred. In Temple Gardens, the priests increased Pepperus, Lotus, And herbs for rituals. The palace gardens were more wide, used to showcase happiness, diplomacy and wealth. Even modest homes can have small spaces with bulls or herbs. And inside each garden, Egypt’s deep beliefs were reflected.
Lotus and Pepperis: sacred symbols
Two plants in ancient Egypt powerful, almost legend, which means: Lush And papyrus.
LushEspecially Blue Lotus (Nymphaea Cerulea), Was Wab With the repercepium and the sun. He closed his petals at night and came back in the sun in the morning, just as the soul had risen after death. Was connected to Kamal God Neferm, And the flowering scenes are found on the tombs, the temples and the fragrance utensils.
papyrus On the other hand, the plant was connected The lower Egypt and symbol life, Write, and civilization. In the Nile Delta, large quantities were used, its poles were used to make the world’s first paper scroll, as well as ropes, baskets, sandals and even small boats.
Together, Lotus (Upper Egypt) and Pepires (Lower Egypt) symbolized Alliance of both lands. They were often shown tied around the Hirogleph for the union or showed the crown of Pharaoh by God.
Festival Hall, Karnak, Thomosis III Botanical Garden C. 1420 BC
Tree: sacred, rare and imported
Egypt did not have a variety of local trees, but what he had was respected. Psychmore figsFor, for, for,. Date palmFor, for, for,. TamarFor, for, for,. PaidaAnd Acaciate The trees were appreciated for their shadow, fruits, wood and legendary contacts.
PsychimoreFor example, the goddess was sacred for Haitor and was often applied to the entrances of the tomb. It was thought to be offered dead and asylum in the subsequent life.
Still, some of the most valuable trees were not at all. Cedar of Lebanon Their strong, fragrant wood so was so appreciated that the old and East Pharaohs increased their campaigns for the Bibles (in Lebanon of the modern day) to achieve them. These imported cedar were used to make luxury furniture, elite coffin, and even boats that take kings to their tombs.
Trade in foreign plants was so important that it became a source of diplomacy and empire-especially under one of Egypt’s most brave kings.
Thutmose III’s plant treasures
Pharaoh Thutmose III (1479-1425 BC), sometimes known as Napoleon of Egypt, increased the Egyptian empire to its greatest extent. But his victory is beyond gold and tribute. After a winning campaign in Syria, he not only brought back the prisoners and looters – but also Foreign plants and trees.
On Amon’s temple in KarnakIts “botanical garden” is in detail. Festival Hall’s walls have shown carefully labeled photos Trees from plants, flowers and lentils And other conquered areas. This is an ancient version of Botanical Archives.
Although most plants have not been definitely identified, they want to bring foreigners into the sacred space of Karnak.
Fruit, vegetables and scents
The Egyptians enjoyed a healthy and diverse diet thanks to their fertile Nile Valley. Onion, garlic, leak, lettuce, cucumber, lentils, gram and beans were recovered in the gardens and fields. watermelonFor, for, for,. DatesFor, for, for,. figAnd grape They were common, with dates and figs often dry for year -long use.
They also grown plants of oil, fragrance and medicine. MealionFor, for, for,. FranklinisFor, for, for,. MirrorAnd Lotus Oil Were valuable for beauty and rituals.
And yes –Flower Were everywhere! The bouquet was presented to the gods and placed in the tombs. Lotus, Cornflowers, Mandrecks, and Pope’s Garlands have adorned the dead and the dead. Wearing flowers on someone’s head was not just a fashion selection – it was a spiritual and sexual pleasure.
Life after death… with plants
In the Egyptian vision of the latter life Field of Reds (Arup)Paradise looked like an ideal Egyptian garden. Tomb scenes show dead tandering fields, rest under the trees, and wrestle through the ponds of the shallow.
To ensure the life of this eternal garden, people were often buried with seeds, beads, and gardens wood models. Some tombs included symbolic trees or ponds of pants. Sikimore once again played the role of acting as a “tree of life” which fed the soul and shadow.
Even the golden shrines of Tutnakhman, such as large tomb equipment, included flowers, and its mum mask consisted of unleavened lapse Lazoli Lotus flowers. The concept was clear: Beauty, nature and renewal not only belonged to this life – but also the next.
Green roots in golden clay
For ancient Egyptians, plants were never just plants. Like many things in the world of ancient Egypt, he worked on many levels. They were the essential ingredients in the sacred symbols, status, food and medicine markers, offering the gods and the journey from life to life. The legacy of Egypt’s plants is still alive today. In the walls of the temple wall, we feel through the desert or a formal garden in the museum’s coffins, and in calm respect. And, of course, many of the same amazing trees and flowers can rule in gold from the palm and palm of history to gold, but their roots were in green!
Today and tomorrow – for the gardens and history and all the lovers of life, the great civilization of Egypt with its amazing plants and animals remains a panic!
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Join us with Pharaoh’s plantsGage dives a direct lecture gardens, trees and Egyptian life, flowers played in religion and royalty. From Lotus’ pools to cedar coffin, you will see that nature was not just praised – it was worshiped.
