Everipedia Logo
Everipedia is now IQ.wiki - Join the IQ Brainlist and our Discord for early access to editing on the new platform and to participate in the beta testing.
Pharaoh's Island

Pharaoh's Island

Pharaoh's Island (Arabic: جزيرة فرعون‎ Jazīrat Fir‘awn) or Isle of Graia is an island in the northern Gulf of Aqaba some 200 meters east off the shore of Egypt's eastern Sinai Peninsula. The island is 350 metres (380 yd) long north-south, and up to 170 metres (190 yd) wide. The area is 3.9 hectares (9.6 acres).

History

In the 12th century, Crusaders defending the route between Cairo and Damascus controlled by the nearby city of Aqaba, in Jordan, built a citadel on the small island, which they called Ile de Graye, referred to as Ayla or Aila in Arabic chronicles of the era, which also referred to a town of the same name on an island on the opposite side of the gulf. By the winter of 1116, the island was almost deserted.[1]

In December 1170, Saladin conquered the island and reconstructed the citadel and left a garrison of men there. In November 1181, Raynald of Châtillon raided the Arab-held Aila and attempted to set up a naval blockade against the Muslim troops there during the winter of 1182 to 1183. The blockade consisted of only two ships and was not successful. By the time of the 13th century, when the pilgrim Thietmar passed the island in 1217, the entire place was inhabited by a fishing village and populated by Muslims and captive. The Mamluk governor of the city of Aqaba lived in the citadel until some time in the 14th century, around 1320, when the seat of governorship was moved into the city itself.[1]

Modern Pharaoh's Island

Along with the citadel of El-Gendi Fortress, also on the Sinai Peninsula about halfway between Nekhel and Suez, the citadel on Pharaoh's Island was added onto the UNESCO World Heritage Tentative List on July 28, 2003, due to its purported universal cultural value.

Because of its location near Jordan and Israel, the island and its coral reefs have become a popular sightseeing attraction among tourists based in Taba, Eilat, and Aqaba.[2]

References

[1]
Citation Link//www.worldcat.org/oclc/70122512Pringle, Denys (2006). "Aila and Ile de Graye". In Alan V. Murray (ed.). The Crusades: An Encyclopedia. 1. Santa Barbara: ABC-CLIO. p. 23. OCLC 70122512.
Sep 25, 2019, 5:15 AM
[2]
Citation Linkwww.arabnews.comAl-Mukhtar, Rima (23 November 2012). "Sharm El-Sheikh, city of peace". Arab News. Retrieved 23 May 2018.
Sep 25, 2019, 5:15 AM
[3]
Citation Linkarchive.isSinai's Lifestyle & Travel Guide information
Sep 25, 2019, 5:15 AM
[4]
Citation Linkwww.geographia.comGeographia information
Sep 25, 2019, 5:15 AM
[5]
Citation Linkwhc.unesco.orgTwo citadels in Sinai from the Saladin period (Al-Gundi and Phataoh's island) - UNESCO World Heritage Centre
Sep 25, 2019, 5:15 AM
[6]
Citation Linkbooks.google.com"Aila and Ile de Graye"
Sep 25, 2019, 5:15 AM
[7]
Citation Linkwww.worldcat.org70122512
Sep 25, 2019, 5:15 AM
[8]
Citation Linkwww.arabnews.com"Sharm El-Sheikh, city of peace"
Sep 25, 2019, 5:15 AM
[9]
Citation Linkarchive.isSinai's Lifestyle & Travel Guide information
Sep 25, 2019, 5:15 AM
[10]
Citation Linkwww.geographia.comGeographia information
Sep 25, 2019, 5:15 AM
[11]
Citation Linkwhc.unesco.orgTwo citadels in Sinai from the Saladin period (Al-Gundi and Phataoh's island) - UNESCO World Heritage Centre
Sep 25, 2019, 5:15 AM
[12]
Citation Linken.wikipedia.orgThe original version of this page is from Wikipedia, you can edit the page right here on Everipedia.Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License.Additional terms may apply.See everipedia.org/everipedia-termsfor further details.Images/media credited individually (click the icon for details).
Sep 25, 2019, 5:15 AM