Hand weaving is based on weft and warp thread which known in local community by the Arabic terms “Sida and Lihma”. Ancient Egyptians practiced weaving in their rural homes. The town of Akmim and the village of Abou Shakra.  Generally was famous for weaving of clergy fabric known in local Arabic by “Kabati” which was as famous as “bardi”and the two were the major exports in the old world and during the middle ages, Egyptians knew cotton and called It the “wool tree”. Linen was the main weaving material of the ancient Egyptians. The hand looms produced soft linen similar to silk to be used by the kings and princes and for mummification. Harsh linen was used by the poor. Most of the houses of the ancient Egyptians have weaving looms in their houses .The characteristic is still apparent in some Egyptian villages and functioning is a similar fashion. By the advent on industrialization and different sources old energy, hand weaving was in many cases was replaced by mechanical weaving. This resulted in unemployment in the villages depended on hand weaving for a living. There are few villages who still practice  tradition of silk weaving  as Abou Shaara in silk carpet production which acquired a worldwide reputation , Alharania in Giza for the production of silk tapestry and Akhmim and Akhmim for silk fabric.In these locations hand weaving represent a main source of income for their residents.

Description of the element (cf. Criterion N.1) (not to exceed 300 words)

What , who, where, how, when

Documentation

1.      Supply the needs of the common people

2.      Source of income for the practitioners

3.       Selling of the authentic to the tourists

Present function of the element

1.Paper presented by Hana Naim  to the Industrial Modernization Center for the Ministry of Industry on Hand weaving in Akhmim

2.Safaa Zaki, Women Spinners and Weavers 1999

3.Abdel  Rahman Amar, History of the Art of

Egyptian  Hand Weaving 1974

4.      Sphere of Weavin

Written sources from books, references & archives

Arhcives of Folklife and Folk Tradition

Vedio:701

Pictures:4006

Audio:35        

Audio-Visual Sources concerning the element

Archives, Museums or oral traditions

Skills and knowledge of traditional arts & crafts

Domains represented by the element

Tools:

Parts of the loom:I

Zarakoun, Metwa,Rawah, doff,Makouk, Mesht,Dark, Dawasa, Marwaha, Dawasa, Shabeket al Rasm, Sahabat

Instruments:         

Eldolab, alhaweel

Costumes:

Fabric for occasion dresses

Fabric for Clergy

Finished products:

Carpets, Curtains. Bedspread, Shawls

 Material Aspects of the element

   Specifications of the element

Intangible Aspects:

         Oral Traditions

The names of the loom pieces have names which describe their function or shape or connotations in the lives of the community for example:

Matwa means blade which is used for cutting

Meshet means comb and it is used for combing the thread

Makouk means shuttle. The shuttle moves fast from one end to the other. Aperso who moves fast from place to another is called he is like a makuok

Soft Skin of girl is as soft as silk

         Belief

            Men should not wear silk because it was prohibited by the prophet Mohamed and during the Christian era it was prohibited by the Romans because of it trasoerancy

          Intangible Aspects

         Oral traditions:

         Customs:

         Beliefs

         Performing Arts:

         Other:

        Work

Situations where element is practiced

        Work:

        Celebrations & Rituals:

        Entertainment:

        Family traditions:

        Other:

       Inheritance and education         

 Means of transmission

Deterioration

1.Archiving the element  in the Archives of Folk life and Folk Traditions

2. Absence of medical care to check the of exposure to the inhalation of weaving waste 

3. Condensation of working materials

4. Absence of security measures for fire hazards

5. Inappropriate sitting posture        

        6.Need of eye glasses

        Use of unsafe electric tools in thep resence of children.

1.Archiving the element, documenting it and collecting it from different place.

2.Training of a new generation.

3.Creation of special exhibitions for weaving

Mona Atef Abdel Rehim.

Names of informants and professional practitioners

         Men and women and young apprentices Each having  certain specialization.

         Egyptian Society for Folk Traditions

         Archives of Folklife and Folk Traditions:

“Osta” nawaal Master of the loom

Assistant Osta

Fan worker

Worker of filling the makouk (shuttle)

Women worker for filling the “neer)

Women worker for the finishes

Description of groups – institutions – individuals - organizations of practitioners or participants of the element

Egyptian Society for Folk Traditions

Organizations that take care of the element/practitioners; i.e. NGOs, syndicates (if available)

Approval for the registration of the element

Contribution to ensuring visibility and awareness and to encouraging dialogue

N/A

Restrictions (if available) for using the data of the element

No customary restrictions on using the collect data

Respect for customary practices governing access