Knowledge from Images. The Egyptians built forts in all periods of their history. Abundant evidence for fortifications remains, giving a broad picture of the changes in fort building and location throughout the period under consideration. Because Egyptian hieroglyphic writing used pictures, some idea of the appearance of early forts was preserved in writing. The words for "mansion," "wall," and "fortified building" are found on seals and sealings from the beginnings of Egyptian history. These writings show large buildings with thick, crenellated walls, towers, and monumental gates. The Narmer Palette, carved in the time of the first king of Dynasty 1 (circa 3000-2800 B.C.E.), depicted a bull destroying the walls of a fortified city or a fort. This scene represented the king's symbolic uniting of various Egyptian towns into one country.

Archaeological Evidence. Archaeological evidence for forts is rare in the first...