Water wheel in Egypt. 19th-century artwork of a type of water wheel known as a sakia (or sakiyeh) being used to raise water for use in irrigation. Earthenware jars strung to ropes of palm fibre are revolving in a loop, dipping into the water and emptying themselves into a trough connected with a reservoir. Such water wheels are usually powered by an animal such as an ox. Artwork by John Douglas Woodward (1846-1924) from 'Picturesque Palestine, Sinai and Egypt' (4 volumes, 1881-1884) by Sir Charles William Wilson (1836-1905).