19 July 2025 The Future is the Product of the Past

The Volcanic Eruption Caused the Abandonment of the Ancient City of Berenike

In 275 BC, Egyptian King Ptolemy II (Philadelphos) established a shipping port on the coast of the Red Sea and named it after his mother, Berennike I. The most important reason for establishing this new port was that Ptolemy needed elephants. These were used in the war against the Seleucids in the Near East, which prevented the import of Indian elephants.

The geographical position of Berenike was particularly suitable as it was a natural harbor, protected from the prevailing northern winds by a large peninsula. From Berenice, there were land routes through the eastern desert to the Nile valley, protected by crossing stations (hydreumata). These provided the caravans with water and shelter.

During the Roman period, Berenike developed into a trading mall: spices, myrrh, frankincense, pearls, and textiles were shipped to Alexandria and Rome via Berenike.

As Berenike continued its development, it was interrupted by a period of abandonment of almost half a century before the first phase of the Hellenistic period, around 200 BC, until the city was reoccupied in the second half of the 2nd century BC.

Archaeologists researching an ancient well used by the city garrison in the fortified gate complex suggest that the city was abandoned due to climate change caused by a volcanic eruption.

volcanic eruption
Evidence from a newly discovered well in Berenice suggests that the city was abandoned at the end of the 3rd century BC due to years of drought caused by a volcanic eruption in 209, filling the stratosphere with sulfur gas and ash and changing the climate.

The eruption of an unidentified volcano in approximately 209 BC released large volumes of ash and sulfur into the stratosphere, according to a new report in the journal Antiquity.

This climatic event most likely disrupted the delicate climate of the Red Sea region, causing drought in Berenice, causing the wells to dry out and be buried with wind-blown sand.

Archaeologists methodically removed the thick layers of sand filling the well, where they found coins, amphorae, and other materials that could be dated, suggesting that the event occurred at the end of the 3rd century BC.

The ceramics found in the sand can be traced back to the same era, probably during the reign of Ptolemy III or IV, who reigned from 246 to 222 BC and from 221 to 204, respectively.

The city was later re-occupied in the second half of the 2nd century BC, becoming an even more prosperous Roman port city, however, by the mid-6th century, the city was abandoned again and was never re-occupied.

İnformation about Berenike source: The Berenike project 

Related Articles

Famous Egyptologist Zahi Hawass Wants to See Hieroglyphs as an İntegral Part of The Curriculum

23 February 2021

23 February 2021

The Egyptian council of ministers is discussing the introduction of archaeological and tourist materials in the education curriculum to help...

Archaeologists uncovered a 3,500-year-old Egyptian Royal Retreat in the Sinai Desert

5 May 2024

5 May 2024

An Egyptian mission uncovered the ruins of a 3,500-year-old “royal fortified rest area” at the Tel Habwa archaeological site in...

Egyptian mission discovered five ancient water wells in North Sinai

1 March 2022

1 March 2022

A team of Egyptian archeologists working in the Tell El Kedwa discovered five ancient wells which are believed to be...

Amarna’s Hidden Chapter: From Abandoned Pharaoh’s City to Christian Monastic Hub

26 June 2025

26 June 2025

New archaeological findings have reshaped our understanding of Amarna, the once-glorious capital of ancient Egypt founded by Pharaoh Akhenaten in...

Golden Tongues and Nails discovered on mummies from the Ptolemaic Period in Egypt

18 December 2024

18 December 2024

Archaeologists have uncovered tombs decorated with colorful inscriptions and ritual scenes, as well as unusual mummies and unique funerary objects,...

An inscription containing 15 headless falcons and unknown ancient rituals found in an ancient Egyptian temple

8 October 2022

8 October 2022

Archaeologists have discovered a shrine containing previously unknown ancient rituals during excavations at Berenike, a Greco-Roman port in Egypt’s eastern...

Mysteries of Giza

9 February 2021

9 February 2021

The Great Pyramid is one of the rare surviving works of the ancient world. These gigantic structures give today’s visitors...

Egyptian Pharaoh Slain in Battle Because of the Hippos

17 February 2021

17 February 2021

The mummy of Pharaoh Seqenenre Taa II, found in 1880, was re-analyzed. When it was found, the deep wounds on...

Ancient Christian Settlement Discovered in Egypt

14 March 2021

14 March 2021

The Egyptian Ministry of Antiquities said on Saturday that a French-Norwegian archaeological team had discovered a new ancient Christian settlement...

Egypt discovers five 4,000-year-old ancient tombs in Saqqara necropolis

19 March 2022

19 March 2022

The Egyptian Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities announced recently the discovery of five 4,000-year-old ancient tombs in the Saqqara archaeological...

The World’s First Pet Cemetery May Have Been Found in Ancient Egypt

2 March 2021

2 March 2021

Hundreds of animal skeletons found in Berenice harbor in 2011 made researchers think that this place was used as a...

Archaeologists, First-ever Roman-era Tombs Dug Directly into the Rock Uncovered in Al Bahnasa, Egypt

8 January 2024

8 January 2024

Spanish archaeologists made a ground-breaking discovery of rock-hewn Ptolemaic and Roman tombs, mummies, coffins, golden masks, and terracotta statues in...

The Error That Caused II.Ramses to Lose the Battle of Kadesh

5 February 2021

5 February 2021

The Battle of Kadesh between the Hittites and Egyptians in Anatolia, the two superpowers of the Bronze Age period, has...

Ancient Elegance Revealed: Exquisite Jewelry and Amulets from the 26th Dynasty Discovered at Karnak

4 March 2025

4 March 2025

In a remarkable revelation that sheds light on ancient Egyptian craftsmanship, the Egyptian Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities, alongside the...

3,000-Year-Old “Lost Golden City” Found in Luxor

8 April 2021

8 April 2021

Approximately 3000 years old “lost golden city” has been unearthed in Luxor city in southern Egypt. The archaeological mission said...