Department of Near Eastern Languages and Cultures

Tamarisk refers to a group of tree species, several of which are indigenous to Egypt. These trees are able to survive in dry, saline environments, and so they are found throughout the country’s varied regions. Due to its ubiquity, tamarisk timber has been used extensively throughout history, though it is now considered to be a lower quality wood. In ancient Egypt, the tree was valued as an essential resource for fuel and construction, and had religious associations with the gods Wepwawet, Osiris, and Ra. Although the true value and significance of the tamarisk tree and its products are only beginning to be understood by Egyptologists, it is clear that the ancient Egyptians held it in high esteem.