From the Mediterranean coast inland as far as the city of Heliopolis, Egypt is wide and open. This part of the country is mostly flat and low-lying. There are no natural springs of fresh water in this region, and much of the land is filled with marshes and swamps. The river provides nearly all the water for both people and agriculture.
The distance from the sea to Heliopolis is almost exactly the same as the length of a well-known road in Greece. This Greek road runs from the altar of the twelve gods in Athens to the temple of Olympian Zeus in Pisa. If someone carefully measured both routes, they would find only a very small difference between them, no more than about fifteen furlongs. The road in Greece is just fifteen furlongs short of fifteen hundred furlongs, while the route from the sea to Heliopolis measures a full fifteen hundred furlongs Egyptian Knowledge and Human Affairs.
Egypt Becomes Narrow Beyond Heliopolis
Once a traveler goes beyond Heliopolis and continues southward, the shape of Egypt begins to change. The country becomes much narrower. On one side lies the Arabian range of hills, and on the other side lies the Libyan range. These two mountain ridges press closely toward the river, leaving only a narrow valley between them.
The Arabian range runs mainly from north to south and continues without interruption. It stretches far toward the Erythraean Sea, which is known today as the Red Sea. In this range are the quarries from which the stone was taken to build the pyramids near Memphis. At a certain point, the ridge changes direction and bends slightly, just as earlier descriptions suggest.
The Arabian Range and Its Natural Features
The Arabian hills are long and impressive. According to reports, their greatest width from east to west takes nearly two months to cross on foot. Toward the far eastern edges of this range, frankincense and other valuable natural products grow. These features made the Arabian hills important not only for stone but also for trade and wealth Sofia Daily Tour.
The Libyan Range and the Pyramids
On the western side of the Nile stands the Libyan range. This ridge is rocky and covered with sand, giving it a dry and harsh appearance. The pyramids were built upon this solid ground, which made it suitable for such massive stone structures. In its early course, the Libyan range runs in the same general direction as the Arabian hills, creating a natural corridor for the river between them.
A Narrow Valley Along the Nile
Above Heliopolis, Egypt does not have much width for a land of such importance. For about four days of sailing upriver, the country remains narrow. The valley between the two mountain ranges is mostly flat and fertile, but limited in size. At its narrowest point, the distance from the Arabian hills to the Libyan hills is no more than two hundred furlongs.
Despite this narrowness, the land remains rich and productive because of the Nile’s yearly floods. The river spreads fertile soil across the valley, allowing crops to grow even in a limited space.
Egypt Widens Again Further South
After this narrow stretch, Egypt once again begins to widen. The mountain ranges slowly move farther apart, giving the valley more space. This change allows for broader fields and settlements, showing how the shape of Egypt varies greatly along the course of the Nile.
