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The Garden Magazine, January, 1922 



as their master. It is worth observing that the Fig tree which is 

 in the background is drawn smaller in proportion than the men, 

 which is about as far as the Egyptians went toward represent- 

 ing perspective. 



A third detail from this tomb, illustrates the watering and 

 picking of vegetables. (Fig. 1 1 , page 237) Here the artist, as usual 

 when the Egyptians wanted to represent a flat surface, turned 

 the bed up on edge, so that it could be seen as if from above. 

 The workman carrying water is using much the same shaped 



The veneration which the Egyptian had for trees in that forest- 

 less country is indicated by tomb paintings which illustrate 

 peasants actually making offerings to some tree. This was 

 often a Wild Fig, or so-called Sycamore, which grew alone in some 

 sandy spot, in a way which to the peasant seemed mysterious, 

 but might probably be explained by its roots finding a strain 

 of water from the Nile. In our illustration (Fig. VI, page 239) the 

 tree is a Wild Fig, which the rest of the painting would show 

 stands at the far end of a field of grain, and was perhaps thought 

 by the peasant to have power over the water 

 supply of the field. 



It may seem surprising that a few actual 

 remains of trees and plants have been un- 

 earthed in the tombs of the Twelfth Dynasty, 

 more than 4,000 years old. These include 

 the Date Palm, Dom Palm, and Argun Palm; 

 the ordinary Fig and Wild Fig; the Balanites 

 or Heglig, and the Acacia. Among the vege- 

 tables, a few specimens of Peas, Beans, Seeds 

 of Cucumbers, and very much shriveled rad- 

 ishes have been preserved throughout the in- 

 tervening centuries. These were discovered 

 at Kahun, which was a city made up of work- 

 men on some of the great building enterprises 

 of the period, and perhaps represent remains 



VIII. OFFERINGS FOR THE SOUL 



The religious use of flowers and fruits was ap- 

 parently quite universal in ancient Egypt. 

 Tomb painting of the Fifth Dynasty shown below 



VII. GATHERING AND PRESSING OLIVES 



The operations pictured above are from a 

 tomb painting of the Sixth Dynasty, Egypt 



yoke as was employed for carrying baskets of 

 fruit and for other purposes. 



Even before this period, however, one of the 

 first great inventions had come into use to lighten 

 the work of irrigating. This was the shaduf, 

 tvhich we find illustrated in a tomb painting of 

 this period. (Fig. Ill, page 237) 



In the scene we are reproducing, the shaduf is 

 sketched only incompletely. It was something 

 like the well-sweep which is still to be found 

 in some country districts. It consisted of a long 

 pole suspended so that the heavy end would just 

 about equal the light end in weight when the 

 weight of the lighter one was increased by a 

 bucket of water. In working it, the laborer pulled down the 

 empty bucket, which was fastened by a rope to the light end 

 of the pole, and when he had filled it, let the balance of the 

 pole help him raise the bucket from the pond or ditch to the 

 field which was to be watered. 



In the picture the pond is set up on edge in the Egyptian fash- 

 ion. A tree nearest the pond is very probably the Wild Fig, or 

 so-called Egyptian Sycamore. The tall tree at the right is the 

 Dom Palm, which may be distinguished from the ordinary 

 Date Palm by the fact that the trunk is branched at the top. 

 The small tree in the middle is perhaps what was known as the 

 Acacia. The earth is raised around the base of the trees to 

 hold water in a hollow next to the trunk. 



The Egyptian seemed even fonder of flowers at that period 

 than during the Old Kingdom at Memphis. There are practi- 

 cally no illustrations of offerings in which flowers are not de- 

 picted. Other tomb paintings prove that the Lotus and other 

 flowers took the place of our perfume. In a boudoir scene, where 

 one servant is making the lady's toilet, another holds a Lotus 

 up to her face so that she can catch the scent. At a banquet, 

 likewise, servants are portrayed presenting flowers in a similar 

 way to the guests. 



of the provisions which were furnished them monthly as the 

 pay for their labor. 



A partial idea of the Egyptian plan of a garden may be gath- 

 ered from a very much mutilated painting in a Theban tomb, 

 which was placed there, no doubt, in order to assure the soul the 

 same delight amid trees and flowers in the other world as enjoyed 

 in this.' (Fig. V, page 239) 



In the centre is a pond which is drawn on edge in the Egyptian 

 style. In it may be discerned geese, ducks, and fish, as well as 

 the flowers and buds of the Lotus. These, however, are pic- 

 tured in profile, with an inconsistency in relation to the pond 

 which was usual in all such Egyptian representations. 



The banks of the pond are represented by a flat surface, 

 but were probably sloping, and are covered with plants and 

 shrubs which are shown in profile. Surrounding the pond are 

 rows of trees, which are drawn, at the left, with the roots 

 toward the pond, and the branches pictured in profile. Among 

 these may be recognized the Date Palm, Fig, and the so-called 

 Sycamore or Wild Fig. The outline of the Sycamore was, 

 however, used by the Egyptians as a general sign for trees of 

 that character and seems to be intended here to represent 

 various species. 



