- The Farasan Islands are a group of islands located off the southwestern coast of Saudi Arabia in the Red Sea.
- They were known as Portus Ferresanus to the Romans.
Location
- The Farasan Islands are located in the Red Sea 25 miles (40km) off the coast of Saudi Arabia.
- They were 650 nm from Roman Berenice, the most southerly port in Egypt, and 280 nm from the Bab el Mandeb Strait giving access to the Indian Ocean.
Roman History
- In the first century CE, a Roman Garrison, Vexillatio, was located on the island.
- It remained there at least until the 3rd century CE and possibly under the Byzantine Empire.
- The Islands were probably inherited when Trajan annexed the Nabataean Kingdom in 105 CE, which may have included the Red Sea Spice Road between Petra and the Yemen.
- The Garrison and their fleet probably helped supervise the Cargo Fleets travelling from Egypt to India.
- The Legion may also have been a show of force to control the Sabaean Kingdom whose capital was at Marib.
Latin Inscriptions
- Two Latin inscriptions have been found indicating a Legionary Vexillation, Fleet and Prefect.
- An Inscription by the Legio VI Ferrata dated to 139 CE, indicates the islands were attached to Arabia Petraea. The Legion was based in Bostra, Arabia Petrae, between 106-135 CE, before moving to Caesarea Maritima in Judaea.
- An inscription by the Legio II Traiana Fortis dated to 144 CE. This Legion was based in Nicopolis, Alexandria in Egypt between 125-c.400 CE, suggesting that the islands were now attached to Egypt.
Farasan Islands