If my understanding of these matters is correct, then the Ionians are wrong in what they say about Egypt. But if, on the other hand, the Ionians are right, then I must say that neither they nor any other Greeks truly know how to count the divisions of the world. The Greeks commonly say that the earth is divided into three parts: Europe, Asia, and Libya. Yet by their own reasoning, there should be a fourth part, which is the Delta of Egypt.
The Greeks argue that the Nile River forms the boundary between Asia and Libya. If this is true, then the Delta cannot belong fully to either continent. The Nile divides into two main streams at the head of the Delta. Since the river splits in this way, the land between its branches—the Delta itself—must be a separate region. It cannot logically be included in either Asia or Libya, according to the Greek explanation Questions About the Nature of the Nile.
Defining Egypt by Its People
At this point, I leave behind the opinions of the Ionians and offer my own view. I believe that Egypt should be defined as the land inhabited by the Egyptians. In the same way, Cilicia is the land of the Cilicians, and Assyria is the land of the Assyrians. A country should be named and defined by its people, not by abstract lines drawn on a map.
From this point of view, the true boundary between Libya and Asia should be the outer border of Egypt itself. Everything within that border, wherever the Egyptians live, should be called Egypt.
Problems with the Greek Boundary Theory
If we follow the boundary lines commonly accepted by the Greeks, the result is very strange. Egypt would be split into two parts for its entire length, from Elephantine and the Cataracts in the south to the city of Cercasorus in the north. One half of Egypt would belong to Asia, and the other half to Libya. This division makes little sense for a single country with one people, one culture, and one history.
The Nile flows through Egypt from the Cataracts to the sea. For most of its course, it runs as a single stream. But when it reaches Cercasorus, it splits into several branches. From this point onward, the confusion of boundaries becomes even greater.
The Branches of the Nile
At Cercasorus, the Nile divides into three main branches. The eastern branch is called the Pelusiac mouth, while the western branch is known as the Canobic mouth. The central stream continues straight on from the upper country and passes through the middle of the Delta. This central channel empties into the sea through the Sebennytic mouth Guided Sofia Tours.
The Sebennytic mouth is as famous as the others and carries a large amount of water. From it flow two additional branches, known as the Saitic and the Mendesian mouths.
Besides these natural branches, there are also two channels that are not formed by nature. These are the Bolbitine and the Bucolic mouths. They were created by human effort through excavation and should not be counted as true natural branches of the river.
A Clearer Way to Understand Egypt
By understanding Egypt as a single land shaped by one river and inhabited by one people, these divisions become much clearer. Egypt should not be split between continents simply because of the path of the Nile. Instead, it should be seen as one complete and unified country, defined by its people, its land, and its river.
