Peacock, D. & L. Blue. Eds. 2006. Myos Hormos – Quseir al-Qadim. Roman and Islamic Ports on the Red Sea. Survey and Excavations 1999-2003. - Oxford, Oxbow Books

Abstract

During the last 20 years the Eastern desert of Egypt and the Red Sea coast have received a great deal of attention from both Egyptologists and scholars interested in the Graeco-Roman period. Amongst the ports on the Red Sea mentioned by the Periplus Maris Erythraei is Myos Hormos. Its location still remains a matter of discussion, but at present scholars agree that it was located in the area around Quseir and Quseir al-Qadim.

In this volume Peacock & Blue publish the results of fi ve years of archaeological investigations carried out by the University of Southampton in Quseir al-Qadim, which Peacock suggested was the location of Myos Hormos (Peacock, 1993). The volume focuses on the survey of the entire archaeological area and of its surroundings, as well as on the numerous trenches excavated at the site. A second volume dedicated to the small fi nds will follow, which will include a general discussion about the historical conclusions (p. 174). Quseir al-Qadim is located about 8 km north of the modern town of Quseir. The ancient settlement was founded on a peninsula formed by a coral reef running north-south, which enclosed to the west a lagoon connected to the sea by a narrow channel located to the south of the settlement. The lagoon and part of the channel are now silted up and have been thoroughly investigated by the excavation team. Read more...