Myos Hormos

• Myos Hormos was a Roman port located in the city of Old Quseir in Quseir al-Quadim, Egypt.
• It is 5 miles north of the Port of Al-Qusayr on the Red Sea and was 111 miles (180 km) east of Coptos.

History

• Myos Hormos was constructed as a Red Sea Port by the Ptolemy II (285-246 BCE), along with harbour of Berenice.
• The Port traded Goods with Africa, India, China and the Far East.
• It was north of the other Red Sea Port of Berenice, which also traded with the East.
• Both Myos Hormos and Berenice ceased to be used by the fourth century CE, and were replaced by Clysma (Suez), which was connected to the Nile by Trajan's Canal.

Strabo

• Strabo states that during the reign of Augustus, up to 120 vessels were departing for India every year from Myos Hormos. It is possible these merchant vessels were organised into a Red Sea Fleet.
• Strabo also mentions this being the Port of disembarcation for the failed Military Expedition returning from Arabia, organised under the Governor Aelius Gallus 26-24 BCE. However, this does not confirm the presence of a permanent Red Sea Naval Fleet.

Pliny's Description of the Route to India

• Pliny describes the Caravan route to reach Myos Hormos, then he describes the journey to reach India by sea.

Roman Roads from the Nile to the Red Sea

• Coptos to Myos Hormos Roman Road
  • The 111 m (180 km) journey from Myos Hormos to Coptos on the Nile was 6-7 days.
• Coptos to Berenice Roman Road
  • Berenice was further south than Myos Hormos, lying on the border with Kush.
  • The 230 mile (370km) journey from Berenice to Coptos took 12 days to travel.

Monsoon

• Although the Monsoon did not reach Egypt, it affects the winds in the southern Red Sea and the Arabian Sea.
• The Monsoon enabled ships to reach India. When it reversed direction, six months later, it brought the ships back with it.

Myos Hormos