Egypt's Gold Crush

Not Just a Shiny Face

Ancient Egypt has a long, deep and consistant relationship with gold. In Egypt, gold was one of the earliest metals to be discovered, and the country became one of the first of many civilisations to boast a wealth of this valuable material. But it was a wealth gained at the expense of the country's resource-rich neighbours.

In ancient Egypt, gold didn't only have a monetary value. For the Egyptians, gold also held a spiritual and religious significance. With its yellowish tinge and shiny surface, many in Egypt likened the metal to the sun. One of Egypt’s great religious deities was the Sun God Ra, and the bright glare of gold was a symbol of respect for this almighty figure.

Gold came to be seen as skin for the Gods, and so it became a popular, albeit elite, favourite amongst kings, priests and royal court members. With its religious and exclusive qualities, gold soon became the chosen material for funerary decoration. The mask of Tutankhamun is a prime example of this.

Territorial Issues

Egypt hosted a plethora of gold throughout History, but these extravagant amounts of gold didn't simply turn up overnight - they had to be mined. There were goldmining hotspots throughout the Middle East. Gold was mainly found  in the Nubian desert (now known as Nothern Sudan), which lay between the Nile and the Red Sea.  Many of the mines in the vicinity of the Upper Nile and Nubian Desert area were a common source of gold for the Egyptian Pharaohs. 

Pharaoh Seti I of 19th dynasty Egypt discovered gold in the Bekhen Mountains, which were situated near the east bank of the Nile. Seti used the gold for a small temple which he dedicated to a number of Gods, suggesting further evidence of the Egyptians' associations between gold and the Gods.

Ferocious Lust For Gold

Despite the abundance of gold in many areas stretching across the Middle East, the means of obtaining this gold was not always simple. Often, mining created hostility between Egypt and its eastern neighbours. Mining was usually carried out by the lower rung of Egyptian society or by criminals monitored under the watchful eyes of the Egyptians. Egypt and Nubia were commonly known to be in a constant state of warfare with each other because of Egypt's lust for gold. 

Egyptians more peacefully obtained gold through gifts and trading with local neighbours. Looking at the tomb of Sobekhotep IV(13th dynasty), the tomb depicts gold being brought to him by the Nubians as tribute. This gives us an impression of the influence Egypt had over its neighbours. One of Egypt’s more powerful neighbours was thought to be the kingdom of Kush that resided in Nubia.  Archaeologists believe that the Kushites once ruled the Nubian region and used the gold there to trade with Egypt, before the mighty Egyptians finally conquered the region.

Gentler Times

Fast forward to modern times and gold is still very much a prized possession in Egypt.  This can be seen in the sheer amount of jewellers that showcase this precious material in their stores.  The Khan el-Khalili market located in the area Hussein is a popular destination for many tourists today as are many other market hotspots around Egypt. Gold still proves to be a booming industry for Egypt today albeit in an environment that has changed greatly from the bloodstained years under the rule of the Pharaohs.

Photograph by Sandro Vannini. All rights reserved.

Written by Chris Henry

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