Sailing Around Erythraean Sea: Six

Updated on 01/11/2024

The last point was Adulis ( Zula), and from there we had a glimpse of Debealuwa island in Red Sea, opposite Gulf of Zula.

There are imported into these places, undressed cloth made in Egypt for the Berbers; robes from Arsinoe; cloaks of poor quality dyed in eight colours; double fringed linen mantles; many articles of flint glass, and others of murrhine made in Diospolis; and brass which is used for ornaments and in cut pieces instead of coins; sheets of soft copper, used for cooking utensils and cut cups for bracelets and anklets for women; iron which is made into spears used against elephants and other wild beasts, and in their wars. Besides these, small axes are imported, and adzes and swords, copper drinking cups, round and large; a little coin for those coming to market; wine of Laodicea and Italy, not much; olive oil, not much; for the king gold and silver plate, made after the fashion of the country, and for clothing, military cloaks, and thin coats of skin, of no great value. Likewise, from the district of Ariaca, accross the sea, there are imported Indian  iron and steel; and Indian cotton  cloth; the broad cloth called monache and that called sagimtogene, and girdles, and coats of skin and mallow coloured cloth, and a few muslins and coloured lac. There are exported from these places, ivory and tortoise shells and rhinoceros horn. The most from Egypt is brought to this market, from the month of January to September; that is, from Tybi to Thoth; but seasonably they put to sea about the month of September.

My Search:-

1. Undressed cloth: It refers to fabric that has not been finished or treated. Fabric in its raw form, not in apparels.

2. Berbers: The term was used to indicate Bejas, Danakils, Somals and Gallas. Bejas were nomadic tribes who inhabited Eastern Desert that stretched from southeastern Egypt to eastern Sudan and northwestern Eritrea. Gallas were a powerful race of eastern Africa scattered over a wide region. Danakils were a nomadic race of northeast Africa.

2. Arsinoe: Ancient Greek city founded by Ptolemy II in 281BCE, located on the Mediterranean coast of Egypt. Modern day El-Gharb, near Port Said. On the western shore of Manzala Lake. The port was named after the Queen Arsinoe II, the sister-wife of Ptolemy II.

3. Murrhine: Ancient Roman luxury glassware with vibrant colours and intricate designs. Highly sought after by Roman elite; but declined after 3rd century CE.

4. Diospolis: Ancient city in Nile delta founded by Ptolemy I whose reign extended from 323 to 285 BCE. Modern day Tell el Balamun near Cairo

5. Laodicea: Ancient city in western Anatolia (Modern day Turkey)

6. Ariaca: According to Persues Digital Library, Dictionary of Greek and Roman Geography (1854) Ariaca is Artiaca a town of Gallia. Its present name is Arcis - sur - Aube.There is least chance for this place to be Ariaca.  Note that the anonymous navigator is now in Auxum, a locality in Tigray region of Ethiopia. He only mentions that Indian iron, and steel and Indian cotton cloth were being imported into Auxum (modern day Ras el Hilal) and Adulis. 

7. Monache & sagimtogene: The words are obscure, except that they are different varieties of cloth.



8.Incestuous marriages among Roman emperors was only a continuation of primitive practice. Roman society in general was against incestuous relationship. Primitive societies often encouraged consanguine marriages for economic and political reasons. 

End of the Section 











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