Myos Hormos

Myos Hormos ( "Shell Harbor " ) was a Ptolemaic port on the Red Sea. He is mentioned among others by Strabo ( Geographica 16, 4, 5) and in the Periplus Maris Erythraei (40-70 AD). After that he was seen coming from the north, the first port on the African side and was 1,800 stadia from Berenice away. Between Myos Hormos and Koptos were by Strabo ( Geographica 17, 1, 45), numerous fortifications, in which the ships could absorb water ( Hydreumata ).

Even in Roman times remained Myos Hormos one of the most important ports on the Red Sea, at the time of Strabo sailed from here to the year 120 ships to India. But he was overtaken later in the importance of the further south Berenike.

Identification

Myos Hormuz has been equated with Abu Sha'ar, Ras Abu Soma and Safaga. Most likely, however, is the identification of Quseir al - qadim, ie "Alt - Quseir ," which is about 6 km north of the modern ( re) Quseir and the High Middle Ages was similarly important as once Myos Hormuz.

Peacock suggested this identification in 1993 because of the recognizable on aerial photographs topography before, which corresponded to the ancient descriptions of Myos Hormuz. 1999 began excavations in the Roman port where finally a papyrus from March 25, 93 AD was found, the " Myos Hormos the Erythraean Sea" and thus probably designate the locality itself.