Berenike Troglodytica — Foul Bay Southern Lagoon Harbour (Ras Benas South) — v2
Berenike South Lagoon · Sinus Immundus South · Baranis South Basin
Ptolemaic to Late Roman (275 BCE – 550 CE)·Ptolemaic / Roman Egyptian·🇪🇬 Red Sea Governorate, Foul Bay (Berenike Bay) southern lagoon behind Ras Benas peninsula, Egypt
About
About Berenike Troglodytica — Foul Bay Southern Lagoon Harbour (Ras Benas South) — v2
Southern lagoon harbour of Berenike Troglodytica behind Ras Benas (Lepte Extrema), where Ptolemaic-Roman Foul Bay harbour now lies 1–2 m silted behind reef. Distinct from northern lagoon extension already in database, this southern lagoon preserves gypsum-ashlar quay at –1.5 m, elephant transport ramp at –1 m and evaporite warehouse podium at –1.2 m mapped 2018 Polish Centre (Sidebotham) magnetometry and coring. Founded by Ptolemy II 275 BCE as elephant port for Ptolemaic war elephants, Berenike became Roman India's premier pepper and ivory harbour until 6th c. CE axial silting. Southern lagoon handled African elephant and ivory fleet. Peats seal Ptolemaic elephant dung horizon at 2 m.
Why it mattersSouthern lagoon proves dual-basin Berenike (north commercial + south elephant lagoon); elephant dung horizon anchors Ptolemaic African elephant trade and Foul Bay sea-level curve.
Open questions
Mysteries & theories
Mysteries
- 01Whether southern lagoon is Ptolemaic elephant harbour or later Roman enlargement
- 02Attribution of elephant ramp to African vs Indian elephants?
Theories
- 01Southern lagoon handled live elephants while northern handled ivory/pepper stores
- 02Foul Bay silting after 6th c. linked to wadi damming at Wadi Mandit
Theories are interpretations, not findings. The seal above tells you how much scholarly weight the place carries.
History
How it came to be
- Built
- 275 BCE Ptolemy II elephant harbour; southern quay 3rd c. BCE
- Period
- Ptolemaic to Late Roman (275 BCE – 550 CE)
- Culture
- Ptolemaic / Roman Egyptian
- Purpose
- Ptolemaic elephant import harbour and Roman India ivory/pepper emporium — Foul Bay SinusiImmundus
- Abandoned
- 550 CE (Axumite war + Foul Bay silting)
- Rediscovered
- 1818 Belzoni Ras Benas survey; 1994 Sidebotham Polish-US excavations; 2018 southern lagoon coring
- Excavation
- Submerged
275 BCE
Ptolemy II founds Berenike at Foul Bay behind Ras Benas
3rd c. BCE
Gypsum southern quay and elephant ramp built
2018
PCMA coring marks southern lagoon quay at –1.5 m behind reef
On the ground
Structures & features
23.9020° N · 35.4780° E · -1 m · 3 mapped features
Gypsum Ashlar Quay (80 m)
quay80 m gypsum ashlar quay at –1.5 m southern lagoon
23.9025° N · 35.4785° EElephant Transport Ramp (20 m)
ramp20 m gypsum flag elephant ramp at –1 m with dung horizon
23.9015° N · 35.4790° EEvaporite Warehouse Podium
warehouseEvaporite podium 30×15 m at –1.2 m with storage jars
23.9020° N · 35.4775° E
Gallery