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Nilometer: An excellent example of a water measurement device from ancient Egypt

Every summer, the river Nile floods, the water overflows its banks and deposits slit on the surrounding floodplain. Since ancient times, the Egyptians have depended on the Nile’s flood and its regular return for their sustenance. But the flood was unpredictable. Therefore, the ancient Egyptians, during the Pharaonic Period, began to measure the Nile’s water level in order to better predict the harvest. A nilometer was a structure used by the ancient Egyptians to calculate the water level of the Nile River during its annual flood, and therefore predict the success of the harvest and compute the tax rate for the year. This tradition can be traced back to over 5,000 years ago.

While nilometers originated in Pharaonic times, they continued to be used by the later civilizations that held sway in Egypt. By Olaf Tausch CC BY 3.0 2
While nilometers originated in Pharaonic times, they continued to be used by the later civilizations that held sway in Egypt. By Olaf Tausch/CC BY 3.0

It was a step-like structure that measured how high the flood would be. If it was low, there would be famine. If it was too high, it would be destructive. There was a specific mark that indicated how high the flood should be if the fields were to get good soil.

Conical structure covers the Nilometer on southern tip of Rhoda Island in the Nile River at Cairo The structure is modern but the Nilometer dates from 861 AD.
A conical structure covers the Nilometer on the southern tip of Rhoda Island in the Nile River at Cairo. The structure is modern, but the Nilometer dates from 861 AD. By Prong hunter/CC BY-SA 3.0

The simplest nilometer design is a vertical column submerged in the waters of the river, with marked intervals indicating the depth of the water. Later these columns began to be housed inside elaborate and ornate stone structure. One such nilometer can still be seen on the island of Rhoda in central Cairo. It was constructed in 861AD, on a site, which is the exact location of a much older structure of this kind.

Nilometer in Cairo, Egypt. By Michal Huniewicz CC BY-SA 4.0
Nilometer in Cairo, Egypt. By Michal Huniewicz/CC BY-SA 4.0

 

Cairo Nilometer. By Baldiri CC BY-SA 3.0
Designed by Abu’l ‘Abbas Ahmad ibn Muhammad ibn Kathir al-Farqhani, a native of Farghana, West Turkestan, who is known in the West as the astronomer Alfraganus. By Baldiri/CC BY-SA 3.0

Another historically important nilometer lies on the island of Elephantine in Aswan, which consist of a flight of stairs leading down into the water, with depth markings along the walls. This location was also particularly important, since, for much of Egyptian history, Elephantine marked Egypt’s southern border and was, therefore, the first place where the onset of the annual flood was detected.

Nilometer on Elephantine Island. 1-By Olaf Tausch CC BY 3.0 2-By Olaf Tausch CC BY 3.0
Nilometer on Elephantine Island. 1-By Olaf Tausch CC BY 3.0 2-By Olaf Tausch/CC BY 3.0

 

This is probably one of the most interesting structures on the island and one of the earliest known nilometers that was used. By Olaf Tausch CC BY 3.0
This is probably one of the most interesting structures on the island and one of the earliest known nilometers that were used. By Olaf Tausch/CC BY 3.0

 

90 steps lead steeply down to the river from the entrance, with depth markings along the walls.1-By Olaf Tausch CC BY 3.0 2-By Karen Green CC BY-SA 2.0
90 steps lead steeply down to the river from the entrance, with depth markings along the walls. 1-By Olaf Tausch CC BY 3.0 2-By Karen Green/CC BY-SA 2.0

The most elaborate design involved a channel or culvert that led from the riverbank – often running for a considerable distance – and then fed a well, tank, or cistern. These nilometer wells were most frequently located within the confines of temples, where only the priests and rulers were allowed access. A particularly fine example, with a deep, cylindrical well and a culvert opening in the surrounding wall, can be seen at the Temple of Kom Ombo to the north of Aswan.

Nilometer Kom Ombo. By Rémih CC BY-SA 3.0
Nilometer Kom Ombo. By Rémih/CC BY-SA 3.0

 

The Well at Kom Ombo. By isawnyu CC BY 2.0
The Well at Kom Ombo. By isawnyu/CC BY 2.0

 

The nilometer at the Temple of Kom Ombo. By zolakoma Flickr CC BY 2.0
The nilometer at the Temple of Kom Ombo. By zolakoma/Flickr/CC BY 2.0

While nilometers originated in Pharaonic times, they continued to be used by the later civilizations that held sway in Egypt. In the 20th century, the Nile’s annual inundation was first greatly reduced and then eliminated entirely, with the construction of the Aswan dams.

David Goran

David Goran is one of the authors writing for The Vintage News