Transporting on the Nile

Egyptian Boat

The Nile was at once Egypt's richest source of sustenance and its main communications artery. It flowed south to north at an average speed of four knots during the season of inundation, which meant that the voyage from Thebes to Memphis(about 550 miles) would have taken around two weeks. Navigation was faster during the inundation because the water was on average 25 to 35 feet deep. That's pretty deep for a place that doesn't get any rain!