Is the Land of Punt real?

The Land of Punt was a real place, most likely North West Somalia or Eritrea, though it was featured in Egyptian literature as a semi-mythical location.

What was the Land of Punt?

The Land of Punt was considered the "land of plenty" by the Egyptians of the New Kingdom. Punt was an important trading partner with Egypt and was most likely located in North West Somalia.

Why is the Land of Punt famous?

The Land of Punt is famous from Egyptian inscriptions from the reign of Queen Hatshepsut describing the expedition she sent there in 1493 BCE. The land was already understood by that time as a semi-mythical realm in Egyptian literature and features in the famous Tale of the Shipwrecked Sailor.

Is Eritrea the Land of Punt?

Eritrea is only one possible location for the ancient Land of Punt. The debate on Punt's location continues in the present day.

Where was the ancient Land of Punt?

The location of the ancient Land of Punt is still debated and highly controversial. The most likely locations are Eritrea and North West Somalia.

When did Egypt begin trade with the Land of Punt?

Egypt began trade with the Land of Punt during the period of the Old Kingdom c. 2613-2181 BCE.

Punt Timeline

Definition

The Land of Punt was a region in Africa (most likely Somalia) referenced by inscriptions of ancient Egypt initially as a partner in trade and, later, as a semimythical country rich in resources and exotic goods. It is best known from the inscriptions of Queen Hatshepsut (r. 1479-1458 BCE) though trade had been established much earlier.

More about: Punt

Timeline

c. 2613 BCE - 2498 BCE
Trade already well established between Egypt and The Land of Punt.
2498 BCE - 2345 BCE
Trade between Egypt and Punt prospers.
1991 BCE - 1802 BCE
The Egyptian Tale of the Shipwrecked Sailor features Punt as a mystical island of "all good things". .
1493 BCE
Hatshepsut's expedition returns with 31 live incense trees; first recorded transplant of foreign fauna.
c. 1493 CE
Punt becomes land of myth; steadily vanishes from historical inscriptions in Egypt.

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