Pharaoh's Island, Crusader fortress on Pharaoh's Island, Gulf of Aqaba, Egypt.
Pharaoh's Island is a small rocky island in the Gulf of Aqaba, roughly 250 meters from shore, crowned by the remains of a fortress that rises above its rocky surface. The site contains walls, towers, and chambers built to guard shipping routes and control passage through the waterway.
Crusaders built the fortress in the early 1100s as one of their defensive posts in the region. After Saladin captured it, he reinforced the structure and it became important for protecting commerce passing through these waters.
The island served as a meeting point for traders and travelers moving between Africa and the Middle East for centuries. Different groups left their marks on this place through their activities and settlements.
Visits are only possible by boat from nearby coastal towns. Bring sturdy shoes for walking over rough stone surfaces and be prepared for some spray or waves during the crossing.
Underwater ruins of Roman and Byzantine pottery workshops surround the island, showing how active this place once was in ancient craft production. These submerged kilns reveal that ceramics made here traveled far across the Mediterranean and Indian Ocean trade networks.
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