From which region did Egyptian furniture commonly source wood due to scarcity?

• A. Greece
• B. Italy
• C. Egypt
• D. Lebanon

Answer: (D)

Timber shortage in ancient Egypt meant furniture makers looked abroad for quality wood. The region most associated with supplying this timber is Lebanon, in the Levant, where cedar forests provided durable, workable wood highly prized in Egyptian workshops. Lebanese cedar was valued for its strength, aroma, and ease of shaping, making it ideal for high-quality furniture and coffins. Materials flowed to Egypt through Mediterranean trade networks, often carried by Phoenician merchants from Levant ports. While Egypt did have native woods like acacia and sycamore fig, the abundant and superior cedar of Lebanon became the typical source for fine Egyptian furniture.