Nilometer on Elephantine Island, Egypt C014 / 0521
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Nilometer on Elephantine Island, Egypt C014 / 0521
Nilometer on Elephantine Island, Egypt. Two graduated measuring markers are seen, one below the feet of the woman at centre left, and one in the niche at centre right. This Nilometer consists of a series of such markers, set in stairs leading down to the waters edge. Here, some of the steps are submerged. Several such measuring stations were built in Egypt over the centuries to measure the rise and fall of the Nile. These measurements were vital for planning the farming that depended on the annual flood. This photograph was obtained in around the period from 1900 to 1920 by the American Colony Photo Department of Jerusalem
Science Photo Library features Science and Medical images including photos and illustrations
Media ID 9273721
© LIBRARY OF CONGRESS/SCIENCE PHOTO LIBRARY
1900s 1910s 1920s Africa African Agriculture Arab Arabic Block Blocks Collecting Earthenware Egypt Egyptian Environmental Science Farming Gathering Human Geography Hydrology Marker Markers Nile North Africa North African Physical Geography River Stairs Stations Steps Stone Stones Submerged Wall Women Elephantine Island Ewer Ewers Graduated Measuring Equipment Nilometer Water Jug Water Jugs
EDITORS COMMENTS
This print captures the historical significance of the Nilometer on Elephantine Island, Egypt. The image showcases a woman standing at the center left, with two graduated measuring markers visible below her feet and in a niche at center right. These markers are part of a series set in stairs leading down to the water's edge, some of which are submerged. The Nilometer played a crucial role in ancient Egyptian agriculture as it measured the rise and fall of the Nile River. This information was vital for planning farming activities that relied on the annual flood. Throughout centuries, several such measuring stations were constructed across Egypt. Taken between 1900 and 1920 by the American Colony Photo Department of Jerusalem, this photograph offers us a glimpse into North African history during the early 20th century. It highlights both human ingenuity in developing technological solutions like this stone structure and its practical use for gathering essential hydrological data. The image also features elements of daily life with an African woman dressed traditionally alongside earthenware water jugs known as ewers. The monochrome aesthetic adds to its timeless appeal while emphasizing its historical context. Preserved by Library of Congress/Science Photo Library, this print serves as a valuable visual record documenting not only physical geography but also human geography and environmental science within North Africa's rich cultural heritage.
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