BERENIKE

Berenike: translation

Ptolemaic port on the Red Sea on a parallel with Aswan and connected by a trade route to Edfu. It was founded by Ptolemy II around 275 BC and named after his mother, Berenice I. It was the main port for trade with Arabia and India during the Ptolemaic Period when important imports included elephants for the Ptolemaic army, but it declined during the Roman Periodwhen Myos Hormos, located further north, became more prominent. Berenike appears to have been refurbished during the 4th century AD and flourished until the 6th century AD. The town was excavated by an American expedition from 1994–2001.