Pelusium - Roman Egypt, North Sinai
At the moment a rather random selection of images from Pelusium. The city is well and truly abandoned, rarely visited but in relatively good condition - for this kind of ruined city. The walls are well defined as is the general internal layout. Unfortunately this area of Egypt does get regular rainfall and the effects can be seen on the mud brick structures. The Roman city has been supplanted in places by islamic structures.

NB. Pelusium, 1st city in Egypt would have been visited by the Holy Family. Battle of Pelusium    

All the thumbnail images can be expanded

(Still sorting through the images - a couple from Dhima and Saladin's castle in the Sinai )

cistern-arch.jpg (79828 bytes) fallenarch.jpg (27641 bytes)
smallarch.jpg (28186 bytes) Looking down into a small room stepsdown.jpg (23938 bytes)
arch.jpg (55686 bytes) gatehouse.jpg (40664 bytes) Mud Brick turret - I think a gate house
pelusium1.jpg (28794 bytes) capitol.jpg (29257 bytes) Capitol - almost identical to those seen at Mons Claudianus - could be from teh same quarry
plain.jpg (14127 bytes) The general view across the desert away from Pelusium (spent months across the way drilling for oil at 'Bardawil' and entrance.jpg (29992 bytes) Gate House - entry way
Dhima
walls.jpg (31003 bytes) potwithlesley.jpg (43187 bytes)
Saladins Castle
cistern.jpg (28917 bytes) viewofcity.jpg (58078 bytes)   gate.jpg (51561 bytes)
alterdetail.jpg (24408 bytes) alter.jpg (41197 bytes)

 

Our Visit: Back in 1986 we did a tour of North Sinai, Lesley and Simon, and the Tunnicliffe family. Pelusium was one of the main stops and we pulled up, donned warm clothes as it was I think February and a bit chill. The site is on the northerly side of the main road towards El Arish, about 1/2 mile off the road with a village down towards the road. Quite a good visit with a 'guardian' hanging around all the time. When we got back, Dave noticed that his canvas covering the rood rack was depressed, this led him and us to realise that we had been well and truly 'mugged'.

Well, in the middle of the desert it should be relatively easy to find the thieves so off we went, each driving in a different direction. Dave was the first to locate the thieves, desperately trying to bury their ill gotten gains. We turned back and re-joined them and then went on to the local village where we negotiated the return of all our goods. Basically a case of honour, what a mistake on their part etc etc.. But also a threat to go straight to our friend the Commander of the North Sinai military who would sort the matter out. We got the lot back, basically gave them a list of the missing items which they filled!