Read the excerpt from the Hymn to the Nile.Hail to thee, O Nile! Who manifests thyself over this land, and comes to give life to Egypt!

The Nile flooded its banks and left behind nutrient-rich silt, making the surrounding land fertile and suitable for growing crops. That is how the river gave life to Egypt. The excerpt points to fertile soil, not primarily to fishing, defense, or drinking water.

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