Talk:Babylon (Egypt)

Latest comment: 14 years ago by 69.92.23.64 in topic Just what was "The Great Aqueduct?"

Just what was "The Great Aqueduct?" edit

From the main page; "Ruins of the town and fortress are still visible a little to the north of Fostat or Old Cairo, among which are vestiges of the Great Aqueduct mentioned by Strabo and the early Arabian topographers. (Champollion, l'Egypte, ii. p. 33.)"

An interesting point! I have it seems never heard of a "great aqueduct", nor of any "agueduct" in Egypt! Does anyone have a translation of Strabo or any of the "early Arabian topographers",that mentions it? It seems that there can exist little sources of fresh water in the North of Egypt, near the delta, from which to transport water via the mechanism of gravity! Of course there could have existed a good spring somewhere in the vicinity of Babylon whereby, via the use of a mechanical device such as a siphon, or some other lifting mechanism, that water could be raised to a sufficent level to empty into a raised aqueduct, and then gravity would transfer this water to a place near the river! But, this seems somewhat impractical.

Perhaps the word "aqueduct" is a mis-translation of some word that would better be translated as "canal?", since Babylon, in Egypt, reportedly sat upon the confluence of such a canal?69.92.23.64 (talk) 16:52, 31 March 2010 (UTC)Ronald L. HughesReply

Of course this site; http://www.gordonmoyes.com/2009/08/07/egypts-great-aqueduct/ does mention an aqueduct that brought water from the Nile river to one place, it seems! As well it seems that this aqueduct was in existance only in the 1500's of the Current Era! Strabo's mention had to occur approximately 1,500 years earlier, so what aqueduct did he write about?69.92.23.64 (talk) 17:11, 31 March 2010 (UTC)Ronald L. HughesReply