Read History with Jack 2 - The Gifts of the Nile

               尼罗河的馈赠

        意大利都灵博物馆埃及展 

尼罗河发源于东非高原的维多利亚湖，自南向北流入地中海，全长6853多公里。希腊哲学家、历史学家西罗多得曾说：“埃及是尼罗河的馈赠”。的确，这条大河给了埃及太多的礼赠。

第一个就是食物。每逢6到9月，尼罗河都要发大水。发大水看着是个灾难，可是埃及人却非常喜欢。因为每当河水退去，就会留下一层厚厚的黑色淤泥，这种淤泥非常肥沃，特别适合种田。还有一个食物来源之地，那就是尼罗河下游的三角洲。除了肥沃的土壤，那里还会吸引非常多的鸟，所以埃及人还可以去打鸟。

第二个就是交通。尼罗河非常适宜航行，埃及人也非常擅长造船。想知道古埃及人造船技艺有多高超吗？大家可以去网上查找一下在四千多年前古埃及人所造的“太阳船”，这艘大船是用来运送法老木乃伊的，其技艺之精巧令四千多年后的人们都不敢相信。尼罗河水流从南向北，而风却是从北往南吹。所以，当他们想往北航行时，就可以顺流而下，想往南航行时，就可以扬帆顺风而行。

尼罗河给古埃及人民带来了肥沃的土壤、充足的食物和灿烂的文明。尼罗河对古埃及人来说太重要了，所以他们还创造出了尼罗河神奥西里斯。当他被他的弟弟赛特谋杀之后，他的妻子女神伊西斯想尽办法复活他，虽然只复活了一天，但是她的妻子却成功怀孕，生下了他们的儿子荷鲁斯，给人们带来新的希望。这就像尼罗河的河水，总是会给人们带来新的生命和希望。

   The Gifts of the Nile

   Ancient Egyptian Exhibition at the Museum of Turin, Italy

     The Nile River is 6853 kilometers long, its source is Lake Victoria in East Africa and flows north to the Mediterranean Sea. The Greek historian and philosopher Herodotus once said:“Egypt is the Gift of the Nile.” This important River indeed gave the Ancient Egyptians many gifts.

     The first gift was food. From June to September, the Nile would flood, and the flood would leave fertile black silt that was perfect for growing crops. In addition, the Nile deltas attracted a lot of birds, so the Egyptians could hunt the birds which were another food source.

     The second gift was transportation. The Ancient Egyptians were very adept at building boats. Khufu’s Solar Boat which was used to transport Khufu’s mummy was one famous example of a perfect crafts manship of Ancient Egyptians. The Nile flows south to north, however the wind blows from north to south. Therefore, when they wanted to sail north, they could trace the water. When they wanted to go south, they can set up their sails to catch up the wind.

     The Nile was so important for the Ancient Egyptians that they created the River God Osiris. He was killed by his brother Set, but he was resurrected from death for one day by his wife Isisand the god Thoth. However, in this particular day, their son Horus was born,and that meant new hope. This was like the water of the Nile, bringing Ancient Egyptians’ new hopes and lives annually.