Ptolemais Theron

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Ptolemais Theron was an ancient city ​​on the African Red Sea coast , south of Berenike . It is mentioned by ancient authors, but cannot be proven archaeologically; possibly the present Sudanese city of Suakin or Trinkitat.

It was a Hellenistic city ​​founding, which Ptolemy II is attributed. Ptolemais Theron is said to have served primarily as a hunting base, especially for elephant hunting. The Ptolemies have been using captured African elephants in combat since Ptolemy II. Furthermore, the city seems to have been important with regard to the trade routes on the Red Sea, but it was already in decline at the time of the Periplus Maris Erythraei's writing (mid-1st century AD). According to the descriptions in the Periplus , the city was then under the control of King Zoskales .

literature

  • Lionel Casson: The Periplus Maris Erythraei. Princeton University Press, Princeton 1989, pp. 100f.
  • Raoul McLaughlin: The Roman Empire and the Indian Ocean. The Ancient World Economy and the Kingdoms of Africa, Arabia and India. Pen & Sword, Barnsley 2014, pp. 113ff.
  • Samy Shenouda:  Ptolemais Theron . In: Richard Stillwell et al. a. (Ed.): The Princeton Encyclopedia of Classical Sites. Princeton University Press, Princeton NJ 1976, ISBN 0-691-03542-3 .