Quiz of the Nile

Answer: North

The Nile River, when viewed on a map or globe, actually flows north. While this fact is eye-opening to novices like me, north-flowing rivers are not unique. Some rivers in Canada (Mackenzie-Peace and the Pend Oreille), Russia (the Lena), and other countries also flow north. Keep in mind that "north" and "south" descriptors do not necessarily mean "up" and "down".

(Mary H. Weir Public Library, 2008)

Answer: Desert dunes

The Aswan, sometimes considered the "beginning" of a journey on the Nile, is actually one of the hottest and driest places in Egypt. Desert land, sand dunes, and dry air encompass the banks of the Nile in Aswan.

Answer: Granite

Impressive granite mountains flank the Nile River, breathtaking in both their extrinsic beauty and sharp contrast to the Red Sea. Explorers who have sailed on the river have remarked upon the startling juxtaposition of granite mountains, flowing bodies of water, and desert land.

(Elwell, "The Tyndale Bible Dictionary", 2001)

Answer: Plums

Travelers journeying along the Nile River are likely to be bombarded with sights, sounds, scents, and flavors. Innumerable birds, insects, flowers, plants, and fruits dot the banks of the Nile. Some fruits that people are likely to find along the Nile River are mangoes, figs, bananas, melons, dates, and pomegranates.

(Fowler, "The Nile River", 2000)

Answer: Horus

Horus was a pivotal god, prominent among deities in the polytheistic religion of ancient Egyptians. The Temple of Edfu, located in the town of Edfu along the Nile River, was erected in honor of Horus and has remained a popular destination stop for tourists.

Answer: Burial sites of Pharaohs and their wives

The Valley of the Kings and the Valley of the Queens are burial sites for Pharaohs and their official wives. These valleys are mainly dry, more brown than green, and are major tourist attractions. Archaeologists, geologists, and Egyptologists have long been fascinated with the burials found in these valleys, and the historical data that they could possibly yield.

Answer: Rising sand

Dendera, located along the banks of the Nile, is home to many important temples and ruins. The Temple of Hathor is among the most famous temples in Egypt, and was discovered underneath a deep layering of sand. Rising sand has hidden many a temple, or rendered others unapproachable.

The temples found in Dendera are often square or rectangular, and surrounded by pale, rippling sand. The temples contain an amazing array of hieroglyphics, important both for their historic and artistic value.

Answer: True

Cleopatra VII (69 BC - 30 BC) became the sole Pharaoh of Egypt upon the deaths of her father and brothers (the latter to whom she was successively married). She was the descendant of Macedonians, who ruled over Egypt for centuries before her reign. Though she was not Egyptian by blood, her bold legacy was tied to the deserts of Egypt and the gushing waters of the Nile.

Answer: A man's head with a lion's body

The Great Sphinx of Giza was built to look like a man's head with a lion's body. Thousands of years of wind, dust, and storms have not shaken the majesty of this creation. It was likely built for Khafre, the fourth Pharaoh of the 4th dynasty.

Answer: Mediterranean Sea

Traveling from Aswan to Giza, the Nile River dissipates into the Mediterranean Sea. The Mediterranean Sea, like the Nile River itself, has played an important role in the history of civilizations, trade, and cultural connections. The Nile River remains one of the most studied, explored, and visited bodies of water on Earth.