Berenike Ancient Port

Βερενίκη

Egypt · Red Sea

HarbourExcavation ongoing
Approximate period275 BCE — 600 CEPtolemaic Period–Late Antiquity; approximate end date See on the map ↓

In brief

The port on the Red Sea coast was an important link in trade between Egypt and the Indian Ocean. Excavations at the Temple of Isis uncovered inscriptions and statues showing that people from different regions made offerings here.

What was found?

  • 1Marble Buddha statue

    The statue found in the courtyard of the Temple of Isis was made of Anatolian marble. According to researchers, it provides direct evidence of the presence of Indian religious practices in the Roman world.

  • 2Sanskrit and Greek inscription

    The inscription found beside the Buddha statue contains Sanskrit text in the Brahmi script and Greek text; it dates to the mid-3rd century AD. It documents the port’s linguistic and cultural diversity.

  • 3Coins originating in India

    Indian coins found during excavations are material traces of the port’s connection with India. Together with the statue and inscriptions, they help explain the cultural dimension of trade.

  • 4Hellenistic bath

    This is a bath containing seated bathing tubs, pool remains, and lead pipes. It documents water use and bathing technology at the port.

What does it point to?

Berenike points to a port through which people, languages, and religious practices circulated alongside goods. According to researchers, the Temple of Isis was a shared focal point where sailors and merchants from different regions made offerings to seek protection or give thanks.

What did it teach us?

  1. It shows that the connection between Egypt and India can be traced through coins, inscriptions, and statues.
  2. According to researchers, it documents the presence of Indian religious practices within the borders of the Roman Empire.
  3. It shows that an Egyptian temple welcomed visitors of different origins.

Latest news / selected archive

The marble Buddha statue announced in 2023 provided new evidence of the port's cultural and commercial connections with India.

Record

Culture
Hellenistic Egypt and Rome
Team / historical
Mariusz Gwiazda and Steven E. Sidebotham; University of Warsaw and University of Delaware
Coordinates
23.9119°, 35.4739°

Sources

  1. en.uw.edu.pl
  2. research.rug.nl
  3. honorfrostfoundation.org
  4. en.wikipedia.org

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