National Day of Egypt, 23 July
The history of Egypt is inextricably linked to the Nile. Back in 'prehistory' the savanna lands of the Sahara began to dry up, forcing the region's nomadic populations to gradually migrate towards the river.
Its ever fertile banks gave birth to the world's first nation-state.
It also spawned some of the most important achievements in human history, since Egypt was the place where writing was invented, the first stone monuments erected and an entire culture set in place that would remain largely unchanged for thousands of years.
All of this was made possible by the regular rhythms of the river and, in contrast to the vast areas of barren desert known as deshret (red land), the narrow banks of the Nile were known as kemet (the black land), after the rich silt deposited by the annual floods.
The national day of Egypt is celebrated on 23rd July which coincides with the annual celebration of the Egyptian revolution of 1952 when the modern republic of Egypt was declared, ending the period of the Kingdom of Egypt.
Source:
Humphreys, A.(2002). Egypt. Lonely Planet.
Aug. 1, 2023
