Nilometer in Cairo Section and Plan for Measuring Nile Floods, 1776, Paper

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Nilometer in Cairo – Section and Plan for Measuring Nile Floods, Egypt 1776 : This original 1776 engraving shows a … Read more Nilometer in Cairo – Section and Plan for Measuring Nile Floods, Egypt 1776 : This original 1776 engraving shows a vertical section and ground plan of the Nilometer in Cairo, an ancient and historically important structure used to measure the water levels of the Nile River. The engraving is Plate XII from the Dutch edition of Richard Pococke’s travel writings and illustrates the practical architecture behind Egypt’s historical flood monitoring system. The upper portion of the engraving features a cross-section view of the Nilometer building, topped with a dome and crescent. Below the dome, a gallery with arched openings looks into a deep vertical shaft where the water level was observed. The structure includes stone walls and brick layers labeled A, and a central measurement pillar descending into the well. Below, the lower portion of the plate presents the ground plan. The square outer enclosure surrounds a smaller central structure labeled B, which aligns with the measurement shaft seen in the cross-section. This compact yet robust architecture was designed to endure the fluctuating and sometimes forceful rise of the Nile. The Dutch caption beneath the engraving reads, "De Platte Grond en doorsnêede des Mikîas te Kairo, om de hoogte des Nyls te meeten," translating to "The plan and cross-section of the Nilometer in Cairo, for measuring the height of the Nile." The Nilometer at Roda Island, one of the oldest examples, dates to the early Islamic period but is built upon even older traditions of Nile monitoring that were crucial for agriculture, taxation, and religious practice in ancient Egypt. This image is from *Beschryving van het Oosten en van eenige andere landen* ( of the East and Some Other Lands), translated and annotated by Ernst Willem Cramerus and published in Utrecht, Rotterdam, and Amsterdam in 1776. Pococke’s work remains a significant source for 18th-century views of Middle Eastern sites. Condition report: Excellent condition. Minor age toning and a few faint margin spots. Strong plate impression with wide borders. No damage or repairs. Folding lines as issued. Verso blank. Framing tips: This architectural print is ideal for framing in a black or dark wood frame with a cream or light grey mat. Its symmetry and scientific subject matter make it suitable for a study, library, or any collection focusing on history, engineering, or exploration. Technique: Engraving Maker: Unknown engraver after Richard Pococke, Netherlands, 1776 See less