The Touristic Role of the Scidia Canal in the Graeco-Roman Period

Document Type : Original Research

Authors

1 Lecturer of Tourist Guidance Department, Faculty of tourism and Hotels, Alexandria University

2 Professor of Greek and Roman Archaeology ,Faculty of tourism and Hotels , Alexandria University

Abstract

The Scidia canal contributed to transport the tourists to Canopus during the religious ceremonies that were held in honor of the god Serapis and the goddess Isis, so the water carnival along the canal to Canopus was attracting tourists. The branch that comes out of the Scidia Canal is three and a half kilo meters from Eleusis, was heading to Canopus on the narrow high side on which Alexandria and Abu Qir are located, and there isn’t any trace of this branch now. As for the Canopic path of the Canopy branch, it reached Canopy in a direction parallel to the beach starting from Pharos to the Canopic estuary, and according to Strabo's description, there was a temple of the god Serapis in this city, and the Alexandrians went to visit that temple in Canopus through the canal.

This paper deals with the touristic role of Scidia canal during the Graeco-Roman period. This study also reviews the touristic role of the canal represented in Nile tourism as well as religious tourism through its handling of the ceremonies and religious rituals held in the temples of Canopus and Menouthis. This study sheds light on recreational tourism and the water carnival held during the celebrations, which was a point of attraction for tourists, whether from Alexandria or others. This study depends on this subject on the statements of historians and nomads, as well as dealing with some papyrus and Proving by archaeological evidence.

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