Myos Harmos & Berenice Troglodytica

The first designated port mentioned in the ancient Merchant's manual or Captain's manual called Periplus Maris Erythraea, meaning Sailing around the Erythraean Sea is Myos Harmos, followed by Berenice or Berenike, or Baranice. This document from its character, seems intended for the use of the Captain of a merchant ship, who might have been the owner of the ship as well as the merchant dealing in the merchandise. The Erythraean Sea was a part of Red Sea, Gulf of Eden, Arabian Sea and parts of northwestern Indian Ocean.

Name Origin

Erythros means red in Greek.  Ancient writers like Agatharchides noted that the name came from a mythical Persian king named Erythras. The Red Sea was called "Erythra Thalassa"  in Greek.  Myos Harmos identified as Quseir al-Qadim, Egypt, is on the Western coast of Red Sea.

Myos Hormos is the first port enumerated in Periplus Maris Erythraea.  It was on the Egyptian coast of Red Sea. Modern excavations identify it with Quseir al-Qadim.  It is eight kilometres north of modern day El Quseir.  Myos Hormos means Mussel Harbour.  The name suggests that mussels were plentily available there.

Berenice 

Greek called it Berenice Troglodytica is an indication that it was inhabited by cave dwellers when the early Greek merchants visited it and forsaw the potential of the coast to become a harbour.  Later, in 275BCE Ptolemy II Philadelphus built a port at the site.  He renamed it in memory of his mother Berenice I of Egypt.  Ptolemic family was connected to Alexander the great of Macedonia, by profession; Ptolemy I was one of the generals of Alexander the great.

An analysis of the name Bernice: Berenice, Berenike and the Latin derived name Veronica are names used by queens in ancient times, especially by the queens of Ptolemic dynasty of Egypt.

Later, in astronomy, a constellation was named after with the same name as Coma Berenices.  The meaning of the term Berenice is bringer of peace.  A high mountain range that runs along the eastern coast of Africa seperates the Nile valley from the Red Sea.  Situated on the western shore of the Red Sea inside a bay.  Greek merchants must have used this bay as harbour before Ptolemy II built a port there