The Nilometer . The Nilometer in Modern Cairo on the southern tip of Rawda Island. It has the properties of being one of the oldest structures in Cairo built after the Arab conquest in about 715 AD, as well as having a link to Egypts pharaonic past. This Nilometers, in Arabic known as a miqyas (Mikyas al-Nil), was used to measure the flood levels of the Nile River. These types of devices continued to be useful up until the modern era when the Nile was tamed by modern dams. During August and September, it was used to regulate the distribution of water as well as to compute the taxes paid in Egypt, since the generosity of the Nile was in large part an indication of Egypts prosperity. This Nilometer consists of a pit that extends well below the level of the Nile that in turns connects with the Nile through tunnels dug on three levels on its eastern side. These tunnels are now blocked off from the Nile, so that the Nilometer no longer functions. The pit, which is lined with stone, is circular at the bottom and rectangular at the top, is accessed by a staircase on the interior walls. Its walls have four recesses with pointed arches, and small, relatively thin columns to either side adorned with two types of zigzag framing decorations carved on its stone voussoirs. Though these arches, known as tiers-point are the same type as those used in Gothic architecture, they proceeded the Gothic arch by some four hundred years. In the center of the pit a marble, octagonal column with a Corinthian capital that rises from its depths surmounting a millstone. At the top there is a wooden beam spanning the Nilometer. To measure the Nile flood, this column is graded and divided into 19 cubits (a cubit is slightly more than half a meter, and hence, it was capable of measuring floods up to about 9.2 meters). The flood that this Nileometer measured was both important to the rulers of Egypt as well as the whole population. An ideal flood filed the Nilometer up to the sixteenth mark and less than this could mean drought and famine. On the other hand, if the measurement exceed the 19 cubits, a catastrophic flood was at hand. In the days prior to the expected flood, this column would be anointed with saffron and musk in order to help induce a good water level. The Nilometer continued to be used up until the last flood in 1970.
Posted on: Mon, 19 Jan 2015 10:55:00 +0000
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