Hydreumata

• Hydreumata were fortified watering holes in Egypt, located along the Desert and Mountain Roads between the Nile at Coptos and the Ports on the Red Sea.

The Route from Alexandria to the Red Sea

• The Route was described in detail by Pliny the Elder:
  • The annual caravan left Alexandria and sailed the 600 miles up the Nile to Coptos.
  • From Coptos the journey was made by Camel to Berenice 257 miles away, via a series of fortified Oases.

The Roads from the Nile to the Red Sea

• Coptos to Myos Hormos Roman Road
  • Via Wadi Hammamat using Hydreumata.
• Coptos to Berenice Roman Road
  • Using Hydreumata, Praesidia (fortlets) and the Lacus (cisterns).
• Via Hadriana:
  • Created by Hadrian in 137 CE from Antinopolis on the Nile to Red Sea port of Berenice using Hydreumata, fortified watering holes.
• Via Phorphyritis:
  • From the Phorphyry Quarry to Maximianopolis on the Nile, using Hydreumata.

Other types of water stations

• Praesidia:
  • A square fortlet with round towers at each corner, and two defensive towers either side of the entry gate. They were of varying sizes.
• Lacus:
  • A cistern.

Roman Sites

• The Site of an unsurveyed Hydreumata exists at Abu Qreiya, Marsa Alam, with a well still operating today.

Abu Qreiya, Marsa Alam, is the site of an unsurveyed Hydreumata.