In ancient Egyptian art and literature, camels were often depicted in a number of roles, from transportation to labor and even symbolizing status or wealth. There are also records of camels being used in military campaigns. According to Professor StevenR Williams from the University of Pennsylvania, camels used in war during the New Kingdom period could have been “instrumental in conquering different territories around Near East”.
Studies on the archaeological development of ancient Egyptian public transportations systems point to camels playing a vital role in ensuring efficient movement of goods and people. Written sources describe early Pharaohs being welcomed back from battle campaigns riding on a single camel and master charioteers driving chariots pulled by camels. The ancient Egyptians clearly knew of the efficient travel times that camels provided.
Etymologically speaking, the ancient Egyptian word for camel is believed to have entered the language directly from the Semitic root qml, which parallels the Arabic qaim that so many use today. Arabia was the primary source of the dromedaries, so it makes sense that this was the origin of the word. This may also explain why the ancient Egyptian term for camel closely resembles the modern Arabic.
Camels have been around for a long time, so it is no wonder that we can find many references to them in the ancient Egyptian civilization. Archaeological findings have helped us understand their significance in both economic and cultural terms. From providing transportation for trade and people to their presence in military campaigns and art, camels were clearly important to the ancient Egyptian society.
Trade and Transport
The presence of camels in ancient Egypt can be traced to the early Dynastic period when its wealthy trade partners from Arabia, Mesopotamia, and the Indus Valley brought in the dromedaries for trade and transportation between the civilizations. Written sources detail camels participating in trade expeditions and pilgrimage caravans for over a thousand years, eventually connecting those from the Middle East to those in Europe, North Africa, and the Far East.
Their transportation role was of extreme importance since it allowed for goods to rapidly traverse the deserts and rugged terrain of the region. Mummified camels found in Egyptian tombs of the Old and Middle Kingdom period suggest camels were used to provide production-related services, such as transporting goods and materials, as well as likely being status symbols for the Pharaohs.
Egyptian carvings and inscriptions of travelers, merchants, and camel traders of the merchants day fill the tombs of the New Kingdom period. Carvings of heavily laden camels were often mentioned alongside those of the chariots and horses when describing the transports of the Pharaohs. Furthermore, we learn how Pharaohs of the Middle Kingdom period relied heavily on the services that camels provided within the Empire.
Camels and their Role in Modern Egypt
The use of camels in the Nile Valley has more or less diminished, with the majority of animals now used for ornamental purposes. Tourism has certainly grown, and with it purposes for camels related to entertainment or trekking. While these may give us a glimpse into what the significance of camels might have been to ancient Egyptians, it is unlikely that the same importance is being placed on them today.
Modern-day Egypt has certainly seen a decrease in camel populations due to a number of factors, such as climate change, intensification of human activities, urbanization, and the introduction of new economic systems.
In addition, the domesticated camel is now mostly raised in desert oases, farms, deserts and in coastal areas. They are mainly used for sport and tourism activities rather than transport, though there are some groups of nomads who are still using camels in the deserts of North Africa.
Camels in Literature and Art
From wall paintings and papyrus scrolls, we can learn about the importance of camels in literature and art throughout ancient Egypt. For instance,Camels were often portrayed in a positive light in texts and art. They were seen as faithful and hardworking creatures, embodying strength, patience, power, and ultimately, endurance.
Images of camels were even placed in many of the portraits of gods believed to bring fertility and abundant water to the desert. They appeared in colossal statues of multiple gods, as standard-bearers in the symbols of gods, and even used as mounts in the pharaoh’s procession.
The god Beset, who represented the desert, was depicted riding a camel and worshiped by travelers who used camels for transport. The goddess Ipet, on the other hand, was most often seen with a cart drawn by two horned camels, which she used to transport water to places suffering drought and famine. Camels were also on the obelisks of Pharaohs, symbolizing the conquering of the desert.
Nutrition of Camels
The ancient Egyptians were keenly aware of camels’ unique nutritional needs as well. They provided these animals with special diets, such as barley, wheat, grasses, straw, and dates. Studies have noted that camels are able to search for and select nutrients and water sources around the desert elements with ease; hydration stations were made to be specifically used by the animals for such purposes.
Camels that are found in modern Egypt still rely on these traditional feeding habits, supplemented by barley, wheat, hay, and dates, which is reflective of their long-standing utility to the ancient Egyptians.
Conclusions
Between archaeological findings, records in literature and art, and etymological data, it is undeniable that camels played a vital role in the ancient Egyptian civilization. From providing transportation for trade and people to their presence in military campaigns and art, these animals were clearly extremely important to the society.
In terms of nutrition, the ancient Egyptians were aware of the unique needs of camels; supplemented with grasses, barley, wheat, and dates, the animals were able to sustain themselves in the unforgiving desert environment. Today, in modern-day Egypt, camels are mostly used for ornamental purposes, though there are some groups of nomads who still utilize the animals for transport in the desert.
