To every Egyptian, the Nile was basic to life itself. Well water in that land was often contaminated—a situation that remains to this very day. So the Egyptian depended on the mighty Nile for all his water needs: water for bathing, cooking, cleaning, laundry, and drinking. On top of that, fish was an Egyptian staple. To strike the Nile, then, was to impact the heart of their diet: fresh water and fresh fish.
