Land of Punt
Punt was a land of gold, whose name is evidenced by ancient Egyptian inscriptions. Another name for the region was "Ta Netjer " ( "God's Land" ) as a tribute to the goddess Hathor. There are only assumptions, which present town was meant.
The Egyptians imported from Punt probably since the 3rd millennium BC, incense, ebony, ivory, gold, eyeshadow, silver, salt, monkeys, dogs, panther skins and ostrich feathers and eggs. From representations in Egyptian inscriptions show that Punt east of Egypt was the sea, and that the inhabitants, which can be broken down dress and hairstyle into three groups lived in stilt houses and kept cattle.
Expeditions to Punt
A particularly short overland connection from the Nile to the Red Sea resulted in Koptos ( Gebtu ), which therefore has long been an important trading center of the Egyptians. A caravan they could handle in five days. Here journeyed many expeditions to Punt. The oldest known expedition to Punt led King (Pharaoh) Sahura by (5th Dynasty). Also in the 5th dynasty led during the reign of Djedkare the official Bawerdjed an expedition to Punt. Under the reign of Mentuhotep III. traveled an official named Henenu to punt.
The most famous expedition undertook the queen Hatshepsut, led Nehesis to acquire, among others of myrrh and cedar. A report of this trip has been preserved as a relief in Hatshepsut's mortuary temple on the wall of a pillared hall ( " Punthalle " ) at Deir el- Bahari.
Hatshepsut's successor, Thutmose III. should have taken in the first year of his reign punt. Later pharaohs also organized some military partly economic purposes serving expeditions to Punt.
Ramses III. also mentions an expedition to Punt: "I had great Menhou ( carriers ) build them ahead pull BAIR with large teams and peacekeepers. They left the great sea of Muqed and reached the mountain of Punt, the land of incense, safely and without major loss, because I floats all a great fear. "
Researchers at the Universities of Boston and Naples, found in 2006 at Mersa Gawasis on the Red Sea, south of the Egyptian city of Hurghada, in five caves remains of ropes and planks that were used for loading the boats.
It was also discovered remains of a box marked miracle of Punt; next to the name of Amenemhat III damaged. , which evaluates the Supreme Council of Antiquities in Cairo as further evidence that the Egyptians had operated at the time of the Pharaohs and maritime trade with Punt.
Localization of Punt
In Egyptology has long puzzled over the exact location of Punt. Some researchers Punt with Ophir, a biblical fabulously wealthy country or land of gold was placed in context. In the demotic papyrus The Return of the Goddess is described that a walk to Punt takes 120 days and the goddess Tefnut back put this distance in three days.
It is undisputed that Punt must lie to the north-east south-east of Egypt. Until the discovery of the Temple of Hatshepsut at Deir el -Bahari was generally believed that Punt lay in Asia, usually somewhere in Arabia. After the discovery of the temple there is an inscription was found that states that the gods had " the southern borders ( Egypt ) as far as Punt " is set. This was seen as a strong indication of a situation in Africa, which was supported by presentation of various animals that is generally recognized in connection with Africa.
After David Lorton and John J. Bimson an analysis, drawn up as a location southeast of Nubia indexed, this view largely sat through. Then it was thought Punt in the Horn of Africa, perhaps in present-day Somalia ( which are now the de facto autonomous region of Puntland in their naming plead ) or in Eritrea. That there could be further south, such as in Mozambique and Zimbabwe are much, was considered less likely because the distance to Egypt was too big and had stopped the geographical knowledge in Tanzania even in Roman times. Some identified Punt even with the said Claudius Ptolemy, Geographike Hyphegesis IV, 7 and in the Periplus Maris Erythraei trading center Opone ( Οπώνη ), the modern Hafun south of the Horn of Africa. In Eritrea, the old port south of Massawa and Adulis apply Kohaito in the west of the country, where it was traded in ancient times with ebony, gold, and frankincense, as a possible punt.
Gallery
Trees from Punt, which will be planted in Egypt
Loading of an Egyptian ship
Expedition to Punt by Queen Hatshesut ( print)
Ancient Egyptian image of a relief of a temple of [Pa - rehu ], Prince of Punt, and his family
Punt, A3 -4 ( EGYPT, 48) Sennar, A4 ( ETHIOPIA, 4) Shaba, 64 Somali, B4 ( EGYPT, 48) nutritious Subat, A5 L. Victoria, Wawat A5, A3 ( EGYPT, 50, ...
Egyptian expedition to Punt during the reign of Hatshepsut
Abu Hamed, 64 Abu Simbel, A3 ( EGYPT, 37) Abydos, A2 ( EGYPT, 44) ... Pnubs, A3 Port Said, Punt A1, B3 ( EGYPT, 48) Pselchis, A3 Rosetta, Ar Ruins ...
Queen of Punt
Sailboat in ancient Egypt
Expedition of Queen Makere to East Africa
Expedition of Queen Makere to East Africa
Fish from Punt
Fish from Punt
Fish from Punt
Fish from Punt
Egyptian soldiers carry tree branches and axes
Temple of Hatshepsut at Thebes (Luxor ), Deir el- Bahri
Expedition to Punt ( face of Queen Hatshepsut intentionally removed )