The Fayûm and Lake MœrisBrown, R. H. (Robert Hanbury)
History
The Fayûm and Lake Mœris
Brown, R. H. (Robert Hanbury)
Fayyum (Egypt) -- Description and travel; Moeris, Lake (Egypt)
Now, as the artificial bank was formed along contour R.L. 17·50
(under the conditions assumed), and the water of the lake, as will be
shown afterwards, never fell below R.L. 19·50, there would at lowest
water be 2 metres depth of water up against the bank, and the most
convenient point of embarkation and disembarkation for the inhabitants
of Crocodilopolis on their way to Memphis would be at Biahmu, which
they would reach by the road running along the top of the artificial
bank formed between Crocodilopolis and Biahmu. They would take ship
at Biahmu for the north-east corner of the lake, whence the desert
route runs direct to Memphis. This is the direct road used to-day
by the natives, who journey between Medineh (Crocodilopolis) and
Bedreshên (Memphis), the road passing through Tamîyah, the site
of which was, at the time that we are considering, 30 metres below
water. (See Map at end.) It was therefore strictly correct to say
that Lake Mœris lay between the Memphite and Arsinoïte Nomes.
The ruins at Biahmu, of which Plate XXII. shows the present condition,
are not in the line of the main bank from Edwah to Kalabiîn, but
about 300 metres to the north of it. It is probable, therefore, that
they were placed at the end of a projecting bank, in connection with
the main bank, alongside which boats could lie. The two colossal
figures (Plate XXIV.) mounted on their pedestals would have formed
splendid landmarks for ships crossing from the north shore of
the lake.
[Illustration: PLATE XXII.
BIAHMU RUINS.]
Thus we have a vast lake of about 1600 million square metres of
water surface, and an area of 27,000 feddans (acres) reclaimed from
it, with Crocodilopolis in the reclaimed area, and the Hawârah
pyramid and the Labyrinth on the shores of the lake at the point
where the waters entering the lake were controlled. (Plates XX. and
XXI.) This, I believe, was the Lake Mœris of Herodotus and of those
who confirmed his testimony, and Mr. Petrie, as I have shown before,
holds the same general views.
But his theory, that the two pyramids, which Herodotus stated stood
about the middle of the lake, were identical with the two colossi
of Biahmu, of which the present ruins are all that is left, does not
appear to me a satisfactory explanation of the account of them given
by Herodotus, though to what Herodotus said he was _told_ I think
no importance need be attached, as statements in a foreign language
are apt to be misunderstood or misinterpreted. Arab traditions also
may be curious and interesting, but they are of little value as a
record of the past.
It will be worth while to calculate the inflow and outflow of the lake
in the condition, in which I have supposed it to be, as Lake Mœris,
and to see if the existing features of the Nile Valley throw any light
on the statements of the first historical witnesses to its existence.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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