BYBLOS AND EGYPT IN THE FOURTH MILLENNIUM B.C.

1986/01/01 by Kay Prag · 1 citation
Arts and Humanities · #Ancient Egypt and Archaeology #Ancient Near East History #Archaeology and Historical Studies

paper · doi:10.1179/lev.1986.18.1.59

openalex publication_date 1986/01/01 · openalex created_date 2025/10/10 · openalex updated_date 2026/07/29

Abstract

The Levant and Egypt are often considered as separate areas of academic specialization, a tendency which imposes artificial borders on knowledge and approach. It is as well to remember that they are geographically linked, the same Mediterranean Sea laps the shores of both, the land masses are continuous with only an arid region and the modern tags of Africa and Asia to separate them. The actual distance from the Eastern Delta to south Palestine is c. 200 km; by sea from the Eastern Delta to Byblos direct is c. 450 km.; and for a boat hugging the coast, perhaps 500 km. By contrast, to sail down the Nile fronl the vicinity of ancient Naqada to the edges of the Eastern Delta is around 800 kill. Such a navigable river at home was a good training ground for boat travel for the Egyptians, though sea and river conditions obviously differ greatly.

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