Aidhab — Red Sea Desert Port
Fatimid to Mamluk (10th–15th c CE)·Beja–Islamic port·🇸🇩 Red Sea State, Sudan
About
About Aidhab — Red Sea Desert Port
Aidhab — Red Sea Desert Port in Red Sea State, Sudan is a Fatimid to Mamluk (10th–15th c CE) ancient-city attributed to Beja–Islamic port. Desert port to Mecca via Wadi Allaqi gold route with coral mosque and reservoir. Ptolemaic to Islamic desert port opposite Jeddah, abandoned after 1426 Mamluk sack.
Why it mattersImportant Beja–Islamic port site of coastal/hinterland Red Sea State
Open questions
Mysteries & theories
Mysteries
- 01Trade network evidence
- 02Construction chronology
Theories
- 01Long-distance exchange
- 02Kayas sacred landscape
Theories are interpretations, not findings. The seal above tells you how much scholarly weight the place carries.
History
How it came to be
- Built
- c. 1000 CE
- Period
- Fatimid to Mamluk (10th–15th c CE)
- Culture
- Beja–Islamic port
- Purpose
- Desert port to Mecca via Wadi Allaqi gold route with coral mosque and reservoir
- Excavation
- Partially excavated
c. 1000 CE
Initial construction
c. 1920 CE
Antiquarian survey
On the ground
Structures & features
22.3300° N · 36.4900° E · 5 m · 4 mapped features
Aidhab — Red Sea Desert Port — Central Plaza
plazaPlaza
22.3302° N · 36.4901° EAidhab — Red Sea Desert Port — Stone House Cluster
houseHouses
22.3298° N · 36.4902° EAidhab — Red Sea Desert Port — Enclosure Wall
wallEnclosure
22.3304° N · 36.4898° EAidhab — Red Sea Desert Port — Water Source
waterSpring or reservoir
22.3296° N · 36.4899° E