Knowra Land of Punt Land of Punt The Land of Punt was an ancient trading region reached by Egyptian expeditions, probably along the southern Red Sea coast of northeast Africa. Egyptian records describe it as a source of incense, luxury goods, and exotic animals.
Puntite Expedition of Hatshepsut : A major Egyptian expedition to Punt sent during the reign of Hatshepsut in the fifteenth century BCE. Its reliefs at Deir el-Bahri provide the fullest surviving account of a voyage to Punt.
Myrrh : An aromatic resin obtained from trees in the genus Commiphora and used in perfume, medicine, and ritual. Egyptian accounts associate Punt with myrrh and its living trees.
Red Sea maritime trade : The movement of people and goods by sea among communities bordering the Red Sea. Egyptian voyages to Punt formed part of this broader maritime network.
Land of Yam : A region south of Egypt mentioned in ancient Egyptian texts, often associated with Nubia or areas farther inland. Yam was reached by overland expeditions, unlike the maritime voyages commonly associated with Punt.
Location of the Land of Punt : The historical and archaeological problem of locating the ancient region known as Punt. No surviving source securely fixes Punt’s borders or identifies a single archaeological site as its center.
Deir el-Bahri : A complex of mortuary temples and tombs on the west bank of the Nile at Thebes. Reliefs in Hatshepsut’s temple depict the expedition and goods brought back from Punt.
Frankincense : An aromatic resin produced by Boswellia trees and burned as incense or used in perfumes. It was among the high-value aromatics sought on voyages to Punt.
Mersa Gawasis : An ancient Egyptian harbor on the Red Sea coast used for maritime expeditions during the Middle Kingdom. Its ship remains and inscriptions document preparations for voyages toward Punt.
Kingdom of Aksum : An ancient kingdom centered in northern Ethiopia and Eritrea that became a major Red Sea power. Aksum occupied part of the region proposed for Punt, but arose much later.
Ancient Egyptian relief : A carved or painted scene on an ancient Egyptian monument, often paired with inscriptions. Reliefs preserve images of Puntite people, animals, landscapes, and trade goods, but are not maps.
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