Archaeological sites in Egypt c 12
46- Sinai
Part of the Egyptian land since prehistoric people have settled this land in different places in the Nile Valley, in the deserts and on the shores of the seas, and in the Sinai. It is the road that connects Asia and Africa and the bridge over which prehistoric civilizations crossed, as people of these ages were wandering between Asia and Africa. The area of ​​Sinai is about 60,000 km, and it is bordered on the north by the Mediterranean Sea, on the south by the Red Sea, on the east by the Gulf of Aqaba, and the west by the Gulf of Suez.
Sinai is divided geographically into two parts:
1- The northern section, which combines plains, dunes, and plateaus.
2- The southern section consists of rugged mountains and igneous rocks.
Sinai was known in the Egyptian texts by the name “Ta Mafakat”, meaning: (the land of turquoise), and: “Khito Mafakat”, that is: (turquoise terraces), and: (ﭽ and screwdrivers), meaning: (the turquoise mountain), and: (Khast). Screwdrivers), that is, (turquoise desert). It was also known as (Ta Schmidt), meaning: (Land of Green Metal).
The name Sinai is derived from the moon god of the Semites, the god (Sin), considering the importance of the moon while walking at night in Sinai in an area where it is very hot during the day. Throughout its long history, Sinai represents historical, religious and military importance to Egypt. In its land, a prehistoric person settled, leaving us with much evidence of that. And embraces its land turquoise stone and copper metal, which represent the importance of the ancient Egyptians. In its surroundings and on its rocks, the Sinaitic alphabet was recorded, which is the origin of the oldest alphabets of the ancient world, the Phoenician alphabet.
Its soil witnessed the sanctification of King Sneferu, founder of the Fourth Dynasty. Its land included one of the oldest war routes in the history of the ancient world, the Horus Road. Sinai was linked to the event of the exodus of Moses; peace be upon him and his people from Egypt. Its land received Christian monasteries, especially in southern Sinai, where Christians could practice their faith. The land of Sinai witnessed the Muslim armies as it headed towards Egypt to open it.
Man has settled in the Sinai since the Upper Paleolithic, where evidence of this settlement was found in Jabal Al-Majaharah, Gaza, Al-Rafa’a area, north of Well Hasna, and the bottom of Wadi Al-Arish, among others. On speculative tools in the Wadi El-Sheikh region. Remains of small population centres were also found in Al-Qassimah, Al-Hasanah, and Al-Tamd. And near Al-Arish, tools from the Bronze Age were found.
Copper tools dating back to the Chalcolithic era (which were found in the civilizations of this period) indicate the activity of the Egyptians in extracting copper in this early period of Egypt’s history. With the beginning of the First Dynasty in Egypt, activity continued in the Sinai to extract copper and turquoise, and this is indicated by the piece of ivory that was found in Abydos, which belongs to King “Aj Ib” of the kings of the First Dynasty, in addition to his campaign towards the east, and pictures of fortresses dating back to the ancient era Some of which were mentioned and confirmed to be in southern Palestine.
In the old state, the rulers of Egypt intensified their activity, and the Third Dynasty witnessed a clear interest in Sinai, as two inscriptions belonging to King Sankhet (perhaps the first king of the Third Dynasty, one in a mine, and the second as he disciplines enemies) were found. An inscription from the era of King Djoser was also found, representing him as In front of him is a person bearing the title of (Army Commander). From the time of his son, Sekhemkhet, an inscription was found in Wadi Al-Maghara.
And the increasing interest of the kings of the Fourth Dynasty in the Sinai mines and quarries expresses the desire to obtain more copper, turquoise, and other minerals and stones. King Sneferu was concerned with securing the mines and quarries and working to achieve stability in this part of the land of Egypt, so garrisons were erected, and water wells were dug along the roads leading to the mines and quarries. A group of inscriptions were found from the era of King Sneferu in public. In Serabit, the servant depicted him eliminating outlaws or those threatening mining and quarrying expeditions. The titles referred to Sneferu as the great god, the conqueror of the desert lands. Khufu continued his father’s policy of exploiting mines and quarries and creating a suitable climate for work in them.
The texts indicate the stability of things throughout the Fourth Dynasty. The kings of the Fifth Dynasty followed the same policy as the kings of the Fourth Dynasty, as texts were found in Wadi Al-Maghara indicating that the kings of this family adopted an investment policy for mines and quarries and insurance at the same time. Inscriptions are bearing the names of the kings Sahure, Ni and Serre, and Jedkare Essie. And the approach of the kings of the Sixth Dynasty is the same as that of the previous dynasties in terms of interest in Sinai, which is why we see an inscription dating the thirty-seventh year of the reign of King Bibi I. It is also known that the commander “Wani” had arrived with his forces to land described as containing fig trees and grapes, which refers to Palestine.
It is difficult to trace the matter in the era of the first transition in which Egypt suffered from internal division and political and economic deterioration, and the matter must have been reflected in the Sinai, where it was not possible under these circumstances to take care of and secure work in the mines and quarries. And when Egypt regained its unity and entity in the Eleventh Dynasty, it resumed its activities in the Sinai, and one of the goals of King “Mentuhhotep Nebhebat Ra” was to restore Egypt’s prestige in this region. Egypt. On the walls of this person’s tomb in Deir el-Bahari, we find a text that mentions this person’s tongue: (You punished the Asians in their land…And fear filled their hearts from the power of the king). The texts of the Deir el-Bahari temple indicate that he launched a disciplinary campaign against some outlawed Bedouins to secure the movement of trade between Egypt and its neighbours through the Sinai.
The scenes recorded on the walls of a measure in the two mountains (about 20 km southwest of Luxor) describe King Mentuhotep Nebhepetre as having established security in the deserts. The kings of the family took 12 other steps towards insurance, which was the establishment of the