Gardens in ancient Egypt: Their locations and symbolism

Abstract

Abstract The ancient Egyptians cultivated gardens from prehistoric until Roman times (3000 BC—AD 100). However, it is only from just before the Middle Kingdom (2000 BC) that evidence from both contemporary images and excavations makes it possible to visualize how they looked. They were havens of cool and shade. The central feature was often a pool of water surrounded, and even covered in some instances, by a pergola of vines.1 The gardens were sometimes terraced,2 as can be seen in the painting from the tomb of Rekhmire with trees of increasing height forming a screening, protective barrier (figure 1). A mud-brick wall usually surrounded the garden. Evidence for gardens comes from excavations, illustrations in tombs and on temple walls, wooden and pottery models, and from documents such as building inscriptions, biographies, inventories of land, love poems, and religious literature.