Perhaps the only gain in a classic river delta scenario is when the accumulation of silt pushes itself into the sea to form an embattled promontory.

The documented dynamics or evolution of the Delta region of Egypt was diametrically different from that of a classic river delta described above. What is mentioned in ancient world texts is that the Delta region of Egypt was formerly underwater. Thus, when the river emptied itself into it, being low-lying, it acted exactly as a natural trap for silt. In short, unlike as in a classic river delta scenario, here in the Delta region, the river’s bountiful gift of alluvium was not rejected, or pushed back, but instead gladly and abundantly received. Land was raised and reclaimed by silt and not overwhelmed and destroyed by it. Indeed, it rose considerably and alarmingly in height and soon this formerly inundated region became inhabitable. This as we all know, is almost half the story of Egypt. That Egypt was the gift of the Nile, is the favorite story written by every ancient world historian, all of them no doubt taking their cue from the scientific-minded Herodotus, who alone genuinely marveled or understood such things.

Of course, the whole confusion arose because the Ionians, discerning its triangular shape, began referring to this region as the Delta. Over time, the appellation struck. To Herodotus the term ‘Delta’ for this region struck as unsuitable and he makes a point in mentioning it. One can sense his dissatisfaction with the term. Perhaps it suggests a wrong usage. However, he holds his tongue and does not comment on it.

To the untutored eye, the Delta region of Egypt differed very little from a regular river delta. Being sediment rich and located at the juncture of a river and the sea, it looked and sounded very like the real thing. The difference was so subtle, that even when they did discern the difference (like Herodotus above), all they could really do was to make a note of it. Herodotus thought it a misnomer and obliquely blamed the Ionians who bewildered him. Strabo too, it would appear, sensed a discrepancy and therefore insisted on calling it the ‘Delta region,’ in the vain hope that perhaps future historians may nail the discrepancy. He also plainly states that the region “was called a Delta on account of its similarity in shape (with a ‘delta’ which is a Greek alphabet).” Strabo even goes on to identify it as a river island.

Of course, there is always the chance that the entire confusion crept in during the translation stage. Whatever the cause, what needs to be noted here is the fact that, however else ancient world scholars referred to the Delta region, no one ever described this region as the delta of the River Nile.

Visual Confirmation

Modern scholars will no doubt railroad the above delicate arguments. This is because they have identified a regular river delta and a massive one at that, in their reconstruction. Very likely, this voluptuous, ‘mother of all Deltas,’ played a part in their wrongly identifying Egypt. Indeed, this delta, a classic river delta if ever there was one, is so huge that it is probably visible from the moon!

A picture, they say, speaks a thousand words and the Nile delta in Africa was certainly doing that for these scholars. This staggering pictorial evidence, that unequivocally supported the modern-scholar’s reconstruction, made me pause in my racy re-reconstruction tracks. Could they be right after all? This powerful visual that so heartily confirms their reconstruction ideologies, vaguely distressed me and forced me to look for a pictorial evidence of my very own.

I needed a picture desperately. One that unequivocally and brilliantly supported my theory; one that spoke a thousand, nay a million words.

So there I was, frantically scanning through maps, satellite images and Google Earth images of the Turkey-Syria region, hoping that there was a well-defined delta out there to fire my reader’s imaginations.

Unbelievably I found it!

When suddenly I saw the distinct triangular shape of this region for the first time, I was unprepared, shocked. Indeed, like a paleontologist who slips into a dreamy reverie and imagines that the six-inch tooth that he had been lovingly brushing for the last half-hour is attached to a living, breathing Tyrannosaurs Rex, a creature that he only distantly believed in, and gets a fright, I too was  startled. Up until now, I too was merrily going on textual steam, bulldozing the considered opinions of thousands of scholars in second gear, without a second thought. I knew that I was right of course, even so, when suddenly I chanced upon pictorial evidence that so strikingly supported my hypothesis, it rattled me, took my breath away!

I got my picture—and considering that it is a perfect fit in my re-reconstructed scenario of Egypt, this picture of the real Nile Delta, does speak a million!

Take out your world maps or hop into your Google Earth cockpit and swoop down on the Amik ovasi, in the Hatay District of Turkey. It is not at all difficult to find, for it is a distinctly triangular-shaped region. The cities of Antakya, Reyhanli and Aktepe roughly represent the three corners of this ‘delta’ shaped depression. Note its distinct triangular shape outlined by the contour color, by the parameter roadmap of the region, as well as the international border between Turkey and Syria.

The Amik ovasi is bounded on three sides by hills and mountains. The depression is in fact a part of the Great Rift Valley formation. The Orontes River, which is the Nile in my reconstruction scenario, flows through this delta shaped depression in many branches, before exiting into the ‘Tongue of the Egyptian Sea.’ As mentioned earlier, Samandagi-Antakya corridor was once home to a shallow sea called the ‘Tongue of the Egyptian Sea’ that intruded inland from the Mediterranean.

The Amik ovasi, which is roughly about 25 miles on all three sides, is studded with numerous ruin mounds or Tells. Some are low but others rise 50 or 100 feet high. From almost anywhere on the Amik plain, a dozen or more mounds are visible. Even so, it has merely attracted cursory attention of erstwhile archaeologists. The more curious ones, I recently read, practiced a new fangled form of archaeology called ‘Landscape Archaeology’ that involved ‘drive past with head stuck out doggie style,’ in an attempt to get a ‘feel’ of the region’s archaeological heritage. As they hurtled by in their four-wheel drives getting a ‘feel’ and in the process, crushing invaluable potshards and what not, having not the faintest idea where they actually were, I silently screamed. Stop! The Amik ovasi was the Delta region of ancient Egypt; it was the very heart of the ancient world!

Citizens of Syria, of Turkey, celebrate like of old, for I give you back your glorious past! There is no question that you were the real, grand and glorious Egyptians. The only question is, when will you pay the piper his dues.

Diagram 7: The Real Delta District of Egypt. Amik Ovasi or Amuq Valley, a triangular depression in southern Turkey (near Antakya), was the real delta district of Egypt. Note its distinct triangular or ‘delta’ shape as defined by the road map and by the international boundary between Turkey and Syria. The Turkish cities of Antakya, Kirikhan and Reyhanli roughly define the delta’s distinctive shape.