Ancient Egyptians Were First To Build Using Mud

By: Ali Abu-Dashish

CAIRO, Dec. 26 (SEE)- Ancient Egyptians were the first to use mud in building process. According to Egyptian archaeologist Zahi Hawass, there is a scene on the walls of Rekhimre’s tomb. The scene shows the bricks’ industry and their usage in the building industry.

Worth noting is that Rekhimre was the prime minister of Thutmose III who was one of the most famous pharaohs and was nicknamed “Napoleon of the ancient times”. Thutmose III’s campaigns in the east were similar to Napoleon’s ones, as the Pharaoh was accompanied by scientists who recorded what they saw in Syria and Palestine. These scientists introduced glass in Egypt for the first time 3000 years ago.

In the ancient Egyptian language, hieroglyphics, the word meant bricks. Afterwards, in the Coptic language it was known as . It was then transmitted to Arabic as , from which the word came and it meant. At Upper Egypt the oldest fence made of adobe is found. Its age is 5000 years, it dates back to the first and second dynasty (early dynastic period).

President of the Saudi Commission and National Heritage Prince Sultan Ben Salman noticed that this kind of architecture is starting to totally disappear, especially after the appearance of glass and cement. This is why he adopted a unique project which is reviving the old architectural appearance for villages and cities. Worth noting is that King Abdul Aziz Al Sud built a new castle and a governmental castle in the old city’s northern part, in 1936, using mud and adobe.

Translator: Maydaa Abo El-Nadar