Hello everyone, Im currently doing an Historical Study on the Location of Punt. I have a few conflicting ideas as to where it is but mainly people suggest it was on the coast of Somalia. But evidence collected by various Egyptologists suggests it could be Mozambique or other places. If anyone has thoughts on the subject or knows of any readily available primary or secondary sources on the location, journeys or even specific items, maps or opinions i would love to hear them! For instance i would love to get a translation of the story in Hatshepsuts mortuary temple or any other evidence it acctually existed would be good. Please let me know what you know.
Posted by leba (Member # 8668) on :
North Sudan...Eritrea...Yemen...Somalia
Mozambique is way too South.
Posted by CrissyG (Member # 8935) on :
Yes, i didnt think of Mozambique till i read something that said the Egyptians reportedly obtained antimony in Punt (i dont even know what that is) but that it was not produced in the Horn of Africa but in Mozambique. Also the word Pwani is Swahili meaning 'seaside'. another name for Punt was Pwanit.. rather compelling wouldnt you say? I also found information from 'the shipwrecked soldier' saying it took 2 months to return from Punt to Egypt.. I havent finished researching it but where do you think they would start from to return in two months?
Posted by COBRA (Member # 7318) on :
Somalia.....i sappose.
Posted by CrissyG (Member # 8935) on :
Hey, i also found that the journey usually went by land to the red sea then south from there. BUT in Hatshepsuts account of the journey the whole lot was by boat... does this mean she took a different path? there was a canal built to the red sea from the Nile but certainly after the 18th Dynasty trip...So, how did she get there?
Posted by rasol (Member # 4592) on :
quote:Originally posted by CrissyG: Hey, i also found that the journey usually went by land to the red sea then south from there. BUT in Hatshepsuts account of the journey the whole lot was by boat... does this mean she took a different path? there was a canal built to the red sea from the Nile but certainly after the 18th Dynasty trip...So, how did she get there?
If you read the Oxford History of Ancient Egypt it goes into detail about Punt being a general reference to the Sudan/Horn area and especially near the coast.
The point is made that sometimes the journey was made up the nile and thence by land, and apparently referred to parts of Sudan/Wawat.
Whether or not a sea route was utilised appeared to depend on the degree of Kemetic [Egyptian] control of Southern Regions [Nubia, Ta Seti].
When these regions were not under their control a voyage by red sea to the south was preferred.
Posted by ausar (Member # 1797) on :
up
Posted by ausar (Member # 1797) on :
There is a port located in Egypt around the Red Sea around a modern town called Quesir. According to recent findings by Fattovitch it appears this was the most likely port used for expeditions to Punt.
Many debate about location of Punt with Egyptologist like Keneath Kitchen prefering Eritrea/Sudan area. He bases this off the floura and fauna found on the reliefs of Hathshepsut's temple at Deir el-Bahri.
Posted by Supercar (Member # 6477) on :
It isn't definitely far from the African Horn and southern Sudan. But what I think needs to be taken into account, is that Punt may well have extended further into central Africa.
Posted by ausar (Member # 1797) on :