Comments on: Re-creation of the world's oldest garden design in Egypt

By: Tom Turner

Tom Turner — Sun, 31 May 2009 19:07:03 +0000

I tracked down the title of the original book about ten years ago but did not succeed in seeing a copy. It must be somewhere in my files! The person ultimately responsible for the project, as for most things to do with Egypt’s antiquities, is Dr. Zahi Hawass, the Director of the Supreme Council of Antiquities for Egypt. His personal website is: http://drhawass.com/ .

By: Gordon

Gordon — Sun, 31 May 2009 01:49:16 +0000

Tom,
Indeed I had read that the original was destroyed (pity). However a detailed copy was made; it is from this reproduction that I assume all the images on the web and in books are generated (no copyright?). I visited an Egyptian exhibit that featured a large reprint (36″x36″), but sadly it wasn’t available for sale. Wonder where I could get a high quality digital image… At any rate, I see that your effort to generate interest is getting some wider play on the internet (http://gardendjinn.typepad.com/garden/desert_gardening/). It would be best to indicate specifically to whom one directs his support for this fabulous concept.

By: Tom Turner

Tom Turner — Sat, 30 May 2009 18:47:42 +0000

Thank you for a good idea re fund-raising, which I will pass on.
Re the original, I regret that it no longer exists. The original painting was on the ceiling of Tomb 96 in the Western Valley at Luxor. The roof fell in and the painting was destroyed. I cycled up the valley a few years ago to try and find the tomb, without success. The only reproductions of the painting are now in books.

By: Gordon

Gordon — Sat, 30 May 2009 16:02:09 +0000

Would you know how one might purchase a large print of this plan. It occurs to me also that this could be a revenue generator for the project. Please pass this on to your anonymous Egyptian sources….

By: Tom Turner

Tom Turner — Sat, 25 Apr 2009 06:48:09 +0000

Sorry, I have no further information. But if any of our readers know more: please let me know and I will he HIGHLY DELIGHTED to do a post. Leaking and whistle-blowing will be encouraged! – especially from Egyptian sources with information about garden history and design. Anonymity is guaranteed and, if you give permission, so is publicity.

By: Andrew

Andrew — Fri, 24 Apr 2009 10:50:03 +0000

Do you have any more info on whether this is actually going to happen or any more links with news about it? Agree this would be great if done well.

By: Christine

Christine — Thu, 12 Mar 2009 03:15:12 +0000

While I was looking to find some information on eighteenth century gardens I found reference to the book ‘Flower Gardens’ by Penelope Hobhouse who is custodian of Tintinhull’s garden on behalf on the National Trust. [http://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/main/w-vh/w-visits/w-findaplace/w-tintinhullgarden/w-tintinhullgarden-seeanddo.htm] From a quick glance at the introductory text she doesn’t say anything about the origins of flower gardens.

By: Tom Turner

Tom Turner — Wed, 11 Mar 2009 07:57:35 +0000

‘When was the world’s first flower garden made?’ is an interesting question. I do not think it was in Sumer. The Ancient Egyptians certainly appreciated flowers but grew them amongst utilitarian plants. So I guess the answer is ‘In Italy’. See http://www.gardenvisit.com/blog/2009/03/09/where-was-the-worlds-first-garden-made/. But the Middle Ages went back to the Egyptian system of growing flowers and utilitarian plants together and flowers were not the main object of either renaissance or baroque gardens. So I guess the modern flower garden comes a bit from the eighteenth century and mostly from the Victorians.

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Indian water gardens history and restoration | Gardenvisit.com Blog — Wed, 11 Mar 2009 07:31:05 +0000

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By: Christine

Christine — Wed, 11 Mar 2009 02:38:29 +0000

I suppose I was wondering about the high value placed on flowers within gardens which were used symbolically to express meanings rather than for utility – food or medicine.
[http://www.gardenhistoryinfo.com/medieval/pleasuregard.html] Did such associations evolve gradually…or…