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| RED SEA :: ATTRACTION PLACES :: HISTORICAL SITES |
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Ancient Emerald Mines
The emerald is the oldest known gemstone. Uniquely green in color and widely used in jewelry, emeralds were prized and cherished as symbols of eternity and power during antiquity. It is believed that Egyptian Pharaohs began mining emeralds in the mountainous area in the Eastern Desert southwest of Marsa Alam.
Later identified as the Cleopatra Mines or Mons Smaragdus (Emerald Mountains), the area became the most famous mining complex throughout the ancient world. The mines at Wadi Gimal, Wadi Sikeit, Wadi Nuqrus and Gebel Zabara were energetically exploited during the Ptolemaic and Roman periods. The mines were also worked during later centuries until left deserted after the Spaniards discovered emeralds in Columbia in 1545.
Today the ruins of the Zabara and Sikeit mining settlements are still evident as well as the remains of temple structures and some old caved in mine sites.
Bir Umm Fawakhir
A little to the north of Wadi Hammamat in the central part of the Eastern Desert lies a Byzantine gold mining settlement from the fifth and sixth century known today as Bir Umm Fawakhir.
Around 1,000 Coptic Christians lived in this town of some 200 buildings. The gold extracted from the surrounding mountains was washed and transported to the Nile Valley for refining. Bir Umm Fawakhir's largest mine extends horizontally approximately 100 meters into the mountain and is about two meters high.
Today, you can visit the site and examine the neatly laid out buildings and the ancient inscriptions etched into granite boulders at the towns guard posts.
Mons Claudianus
In the parched desert between the Red Sea and the Nile lies the fascinating ruins of a Roman settlement.
For over two centuries, from 68 AD to 282 AD, Mons Claudianus used the surrounding mountains to produce high quality columns and building blocks of grey granite known as granodiorite for the sole purpose of beautifying imperial Rome. Today, you can witness these magnificent objects in the Pantheon, in Hadrian's Villa and in the unfinished Temple of Venus.
The largest and best-preserved Roman site in the Eastern Desert, Mons Claudianus, was once home to one thousand quarrymen and soldiers. You can still see remnants of the fortress, dwellings, workshops, stables, baths, broken granite columns and slabs. One column is an impressive 16 meters long and 2.4 meters wide, weighing 209 tons. Mons Claudianus is definitely well worth a day trip from Hurghada, Safaga or Quseir.
Monastery of St Paul
The Monastery of St Paul is situated 26 kilometers south of Zafarana. St Paul (c.228-343 AD), a contemporary of St Anthony, is considered Christianity's first ascetic hermit.
His remains are kept in one of the monastery's three churches built in and around the cave where he once lived and worshiped for some 85 years.
Although the Coptic monastery itself is much smaller than that of nearby St Anthony, you are welcome to stay a few nights. There is much to see: freshwater springs, colorful wall paintings, altars with candles, and ostrich eggs that symbolize the Resurrection. The fortress in the middle was once where the monks withdrew during hostile raids. The monastery also houses many important old and illustrated manuscripts.
Pharaoh's Island
Pharaoh's Island, also called Coral Island or Geziret Faroun, lies eight kilometers south of Taba and 250 meters off the coast. The Phoenicians were the first to make use of this
island's fine natural harbor during the 10th century BC to foster trade with Egypt. Much later the small rocky island came under Byzantine control.
Early in the 12th century the Crusaders built a fortress there to protect pilgrims traveling between Jerusalem and the Monastery of St Katherine and to harass Arab trade. Sultan Salah El Din (Saladin) evicted the Crusaders from the island and significantly strengthened the fortress later in the 12th century. The Mamelukes and Ottomans probably further fortified it when they became the dominant force of the region.
Today you can follow in the footsteps of the legendary Lawrence of Arabia and explore the fully renovated fortress of medieval character with its towers, arched doorways, sleeping quarters, baths and kitchens.
Quseir Fortress
This Ottoman fortress in the town center of Quseir is certainly worth a visit. It was built in the 16th century during the reign of Sultan Selim to protect trade links with India.
Napoleon's troops occupied the fortress in 1799, fortifying it with cannons mounted high on the walls. They also added a new viewing platform. A few years later, British forces ejected the French after a fierce battle and added a new gate to the fortress. The opening of the Suez Canal in 1869 led to the decline of Quseir and its fortress.
Recently, restoration work on the fortress has been completed. Cannons are once again pointing seawards from their original gun ports. The viewing platform was also restored with the help of illustrations from the Déscription de l'Égypte that had been commissioned by Napoleon. The fortress now houses the new Visitor Center containing displays on local history, archaeology and culture of the surrounding region.
The Temple of Seti I at Kanais
Located in Kanais, east of Edfu along the desert road to Marsa Alam, lies a small rock-cut temple built by Seti I (1305-1290 BC).
Unfortunately, you will only be able to view the entrance of the temple. The chamber inside the cliff, which has magnificent drawings of Seti I slashing at his enemies and offering a gift to the god Amun, is closed to the public to protect it against defacement.
Not far from the temple there is an ancient well. Superb rock art from pre-dynastic times about 6000 years old up to the period of Seti I decorate the wadi's steep walls with rowing boats, dancing goddesses, long-horned gazelles, fat hippos and hunting scenes.
Closer to the main road are the remains of a Roman fort; an indication of how important this area was in ancient times.
Wadi Hammamat
About midway between Quseir and Qena is the legendary Wadi Hammamat. Through this valley runs an ancient road, the shortest from the Red Sea to the Nile. Hundreds of rock inscriptions adorn the wadi's walls. Some drawings, like the ancient Egyptian reed boats, date back to 4000 BC.
What made Wadi Hammamat famous during antiquity was the Bekheny stone; a beautiful green ornamental rock that was considered sacred. The stone was actively quarried from Pharaonic until Roman times for the production of bowls, statues and sarcophagi. A large number of Bekheny stone monuments have been found in pyramids, graves and temples of these periods.
Today you will not only marvel at the rock drawings of the distant past, but you can also admire the ruins of the quarries, mines, fortresses, watchtowers and wells that lie scattered along this principal route.
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