Splashes of Generosity: Egypt's Incredible Water Sharing Tradition Throughout the Ages
A desert country with very little rainfall knows the value of water. In Egypt, water has always been divine. Water means life, and as Herodotus once wrote, “Egypt is the gift of the Nile”. There is so much to say about the role that water has played in the creation and continuation of our culture- over 5000 years worth! The practise of providing and sharing water with others is centuries old. As much as things change over time, you’d be surprised at how much some traditions stay the same. One thing that remains is how creative egyptians can be sharing water.
Water Carriers filling their goat skin bags.
Castro, M., CC B-SA 2.5.
Ancient Egypt 2700 B.C - 640 A.D
As with all things Egyptian, we must go back to the ancient period. Times were precarious back then and the balance between Order and Chaos had to be meticulously kept. The order of harmony, peace, and prosperity, (known as Maat and represented by an ostrich feather) versus the wild chaos of violence and injustice, (known as Isfet and represented by a great serpent). Order and Chaos were ancient Egypt’s version of Good and Evil.
It was the divine ruler’s job to make sure society didn’t plunge into chaos. A big part of that was ensuring that there was enough water for everybody- including water for crops ie: the yearly flooding of the Nile. This meant that water was a highly political thing! There are examples from the Old Kingdom (2700 - 2200 B.C) to the New Kingdom (1600 B.C - 1000 B.C) of the state providing a water supply to certain settlements. This was done through the local administration. What did this look like?
“Providing drinking water connects you to the divine- as there is no life without water, and Ancient Egyptians knew this well. Their ability to harness and control water was a major factor to their success as a culture.”
Drinking places were set up in central areas, they consisted of clay water jars that people could go to to collect water from. It was the local administration’s job to make sure there was always water for the town. Water carriers transported the water to the drinking places.
In ancient times, to be a Water Carrier was a career recognized by local authorities. There were rules about where to collect water from to make sure that it was clean. Water would be carried in goat skin bags or clay jars, on their backs, tied to sticks over their shoulders, or on the backs of donkeys to distribution points. This sight of water carriers continued well into the 19th century- we are talking thousands of years!
A water jug being carried in this relief from the tomb of Mereruka in Sakkara.
An Ancient Egyptian water jar at the Metropolitan Museum of Art.
Noblemen have long listed their accomplishments on tomb walls, and there are examples of those who have listed providing drinking places for locals. It was a source of pride and accomplishment, as well as a way to boast their power and social standing. Providing drinking water connects you to the divine- as there is no life without water, and Ancient Egyptians knew this well. Their ability to harness and control water was a major factor to their success as a culture. To this day, sharing water has the same connotations! It’s seen as a life-affirming action.
This charitable act of providing water continues to this day in a pretty similar way!
Islamic Period- Mamluk SulTanATE 1250-1570 A.D
Fast forwarding to the Mamluk period, the tradition of Sabil buildings begins in the 16th century. A Sabil is a public water fountain made possible by an underground water cistern. These kinds of fountains are known as “Sabil” coming from the phrase “ Fi Sabil Illah” translating to doing an act of charity “for the sake of God”. They were built and funded by wealthy individuals from the ruling class. The cistern would fill up during the months the Nile flooded, the water would be treated and distributed for free to passersby.
Sabils are easily recognizable by their large street facing windows covered with heavily decorated metal grilles. These iconic grilles have gaps big enough for cups to be passed through. People on the inside would fill cups with fresh water and pass them through the grilles to the thirsty. Other Sabils would have taps that were accessible from the street. All were welcome to stop for a cool and refreshing drink. Today, these historic Sabils are appreciated and studied for their iconic architectural design and decorative motifs.
Sabil of Abdel Rahman Katkhuda in 1936.
Sabil of Abdel Rahman Katkhuda in 2015.
Sailko, CC BY 3.0.
In Islam, there are different kinds of good deeds. Providing water as a charitable act is considered “Sadaka Garya,” a good deed that keeps on giving. For every person who drinks from the water you have provided, it is considered a good deed. And in a hot country like Egypt, it’s an ideal charitable act. When it comes to sabils, water is often provided as a charitable act on behalf of a deceased person. Sadaka Garya is the only way a dead person can amass good deeds- so setting up a Sabil in honor of a passed loved one is a great act of kindness. This is why almost all Sabils are named after people, even to this day!
Sabils were for drinking only, not for collecting water for domestic uses. For that, Cairenes would either visit the closest canal or lake to fill up on water, visit a water seller or if wealthy enough, have water delivered by water carriers. During this period water was hard to come by, and often, people would outsource all of their water needs. Bathing happened at public bath houses and laundry was sent to the market to be cleaned.
The flooding of the Nile near the Pyramids, circa 1890s.
Early modern period-Ottoman Egypt 1517 - 1867
During the Ottoman period, (the tradition of Sabil building continued but with their own decorative style. Today, about 70 Sabils are still standing in Cairo, tucked away in historic neighborhoods and very worth the visit. Unfortunately, they don’t give out water anymore, but empty cisterns mean you can go underground down and see how the water was stored!
In 1865, Egyptian sovereign Khedive Ismail allowed French hydraulic engineer Jean Antoine Cordier to establish the Cairo Water Company. In his attempt to modernize Egypt in preparation for the opening of the Suez Canal, a few short years later (in 1869), Khedive Ismail wanted to bring water pipes to the homes of Cairo.
Egyptian Women collecting water from the Nile in clay water jugs.
Until then, Cairo was full of canals and lakes. Where are these canals and lakes now, you might ask? They were filled in and are now major roads in the city. By 1887, the Cairo Water Company had provided water to 3600 of the 5500 homes in Cairo. As more and more homes were given water pipes, the demand for water carriers waned.
Modern Period
Even though the vast majority of the city has access to water pipes, the tradition of sharing water is very strong- particularly in increasingly hotter summer months (thanks global warming!). Today, the Sabil has taken on a different appearance. Four different versions to be precise: the Olla, the Zeer, the Coleman and the Coldaire. Varying in size and material, these water dispensers line the streets of Egypt for any and all to drink from.
A set of Zeers on their stands in an historic cemetary in ElMinya. Photo by Dina Elgohary
The Olla and Zeer are unglazed clay water jugs that keep their contents cool through the evaporation of water from their surfaces. Both need to be cleaned and filled daily. They are traditional and much loved.
For some, though, the Olla and Zeer are considered to be unhygienic because of their porous material and open tops. This is where the Coleman and Coldaire come in! Both are now known by their original brand names. The Coleman is a plastic insulated tub with a tap and the Coldaire is a refrigerated water dispenser, the most expensive of the four.
Two Coldaires, one with a green and white sign indicating that it has been set up in memory of a loved one.
You’ll see these modern day sabils in front of apartment buildings, small shops, mosques etc. They are set up by individuals who want to provide for their community members. Cleaning, filling and maintaining these sabils is a daily task and big commitment. It's common for a Sabil to be set up in memory of a loved one, where even in death they can give back to their community. Some Sabils will have writing on them, sometimes it’s a Quranic verse, and sometimes it’s the name of a deceased loved one.
Often you will find plants near by these Sabils, or a small container on the floor to catch spilled water. This is so that the water doesn’t go to waste! Extra water that isn’ t drunk can be poured into a plant pot, put into the small container for the street cats and dogs, or even left in the cup for the next person to drink.
There is just so much more to be said about Egyptian water culture, from agriculture to politics. But consider this a glimpse into one small aspect of Egyptian life and culture. Next time you’re walking around town and see one of these Sabils, remember how far back this tradition goes!
REFERENCES AND EXTRA READINGS FOR NERDY FOLK:
Ahmed, A. T., Gohary, F. E., Tzanakakis, V. A., & Angelakis, A. N. (2020). Egyptian and Greek Water Cultures and Hydro-Technologies in Ancient Times. Sustainability, 12(22), 9760. https://doi.org/10.3390/su12229760
Attia, F. A. (1999). Water and Development in Greater Cairo (Egypt). DOAJ (DOAJ: Directory of Open Access Journals). https://doaj.org/article/c8b05b78338a42c9a2545197293e946f
Dobrowolsk, A., & Dobrowolski, J. (2016, November). The Sultan’s Fountain. ARAMCO World. Retrieved June 6, 2023, from https://www.aramcoworld.com/Articles/November-2016/The-Sultan-s-Fountain
Driaux, D. (2016). Water supply of ancient Egyptian settlements: the role of the state. Overview of a relatively equitable scheme from the Old to New Kingdom (ca. 2543–1077 BC). Water History, 8(1), 43–58. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12685-015-0150-x
Farmer, T., Throckmorton, M., & Rahaman, F. (2020, March 2). The Sabils of Cairo: Small Scale Urban Adaptations to Water Stress. The Journal of Sustainability Education. Retrieved June 6, 2023, from http://www.susted.com/wordpress/content/the-sabils-of-cairo-small-scale-urban-adaptations-to-water-stress_2020_03/
Hawass, Z., & Richards, J. C. (2007). The archaeology and art of ancient Egypt : essays in honor of David B. O’Connor. http://ci.nii.ac.jp/ncid/BA87545274
Nikiel, C. A., & Eltahir, E. a. B. (2021). Past and future trends of Egypt’s water consumption and its sources. Nature Communications, 12(1). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-021-24747-9
Pasquier, É. (2022, June 15). Politics of Nature: The Cairo Water Company in 19th-Century Egypt. Environmental History Now. Retrieved June 6, 2023, from https://envhistnow.com/2022/06/15/politics-of-nature-the-cairo-water-company-in-19th-century-egypt/#_ftn3
Shehata, F. (2019). The Water-Carrier in Graeco-Roman Egypt. The Journal of Association of Arab Universities for Toursim and Hospitality, 17(1), 1–15.
Soliman, M. M. (2017). VIRTUAL REALITY AND THE ISLAMIC WATER SYSTEM IN CAIRO: CHALLENGES AND METHODS. International Journal of Architectural Research, 11(3), 78. https://doi.org/10.26687/archnet-ijar.v11i3.1386
