The Pharaoh’s Island, which is in the far north-east of Egypt between the Taba mountain range and plateaus, overlooking the Gulf of Aqaba and covering an area of 508.8 acres
with a population of about 3,000 people, is one of the many picturesque views and charming islands that Egypt is home.
The island is notable for the possibility of watching four countries, namely Egypt, Palestine, Jordan, and Saudi Arabia, and is located about 240 kilometers from Sharm El-Sheikh.
The city in Egypt is also distinguished for its mild climate throughout the year. However, the winters can be extremely chilly.
If you are looking for a fantastic experience that you will ever have in Egypt, check out our Egypt packages
Why was Pharaoh’s Island given that name?
The Pharaonic King Ramses II oversaw the island’s construction in 1194 BC and gave it his name. The island is located in Taba.
Why was the castle built?
This castle was established by Sultan Salah al-Din al-Ayyubi, founder of the Ayyubid state in Egypt, in the late twelfth century AD, specifically in the year 1170 AD. He was also called Arnat, Prince of Karak, one of the Crusader emirates south of the Levant.
what you can see from the castle?
When anyone stands on the walls of Saladin’s citadel in Taba, he can see the borders of four countries: Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Jordan, and Palestine.
He can also see the Israeli port of Eilat and the Jordanian port of Aqaba, located at the northernmost tip of the Gulf of Aqaba.
Construction of the Pharaoh’s Island:
The castle of Salah al-Din was built on a prominent yoke or a prominent yoke in the form of two groups of fortifications, two groups of two groups,
two groups of fortifications for ammunition and weapons, stores for grain and food, a tank, water, and a mosque.
There are three towers overlooking the waters of the Gulf and three buildings at the highest ends of the northern group of fortifications,
which are the most dangerous and among the largest previously. The external invasion occurred from its direction, and these towers have openings
for throwing arrows from 3 former buildings and formerly official.
History of Pharaoh’s Island river Thames:
Taba Castle or Salah al-Din al-Ayyubi Castle. To fend off Crusader raids, defend the Egyptian pilgrimage route through the Sinai,
and secure the land and sea routes connecting Egypt, the Levant, and the Hijaz, the commander Salah al-Din al-Ayyubi built his castle on the island of Pharaoh in Taba in the year 567 AH 1171 AD,
which is 250 m from the coast of Sinai. Additionally, it serves as a cutting-edge naval facility to protect the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aqaba from any naval incursions.
It also secures the pilgrimage route.
The island is split into two sections: the first offers diving practice areas in the alluring depths of the Sinai,
and the second is home to historical sites from “The Pharaonic,” “Ottoman,” and “Seljuk” periods. During the Pharaonic era,
the island was a location for storing commercial goods and weapons. To defend the eastern side of the Egyptian border and secure the pilgrimage route,
it was also utilized for military purposes during the Ayyubid and Seljuk eras.
The islands of tourism and history, referring to the Palace of Commerce and Hajj, in 1182 AD, but Abu Bakr ibn Ayyub, brother of Salah al-Din, confronted him.
The castle was built on the main image of the garden, which is a picture surrounded by high walls with a painting dedicated to the protection,
including grain and ammo, as well as the idea intended to save, talk about the image, and announce the element of surprise loaded during loading—defeat on the island.
What monuments and forts are still standing on the island today?
A modest basilica church from the Byzantine period was once located on the island and was built in the sixth century AD.
One of Sinai’s most significant Islamic structures is the Salah al-Din Castle. On the ruins of a castle, it was built by the general Salah al-Din (567 AH 1171 AD).
A court that King Baldwin constructed in 510 AH/116 AD.
Facts about pharaoh’s island:
1. It is situated in the middle of an atoll at the head of the Gulf of Aqaba. After Ras Muhammad, it is the second diving location in Sinai. The castle is located 10 km from the port of Aqaba and 250 m from the Sinai coast.
2. The island of Pharaoh was known by several titles, including Al-Murjan Island, Gray Island, and three names given to it by the Sinai people: “The Castle,” “Al-Qala,” and “Al-Qari.” Its dimensions are 325 meters in the north and south and 60 meters in the east and west.
3- After traveling by the island during his war against the Levant in 567 AH 1171 AD, Salah al-Din recognized the strategic value of its location and constructed his renowned citadel there.
4- The granite firestone used to construct the castle was extracted from the castle quarry, which is right now situated in the middle of the northern defense.
5- The castle was erected over two substantial hills, a northern hill and a southern hill between them, and a central plain, each of which is a stand-alone fortress capable of defending in case the other is besieged as the first line of defense for the castle—the two futures: the present.
In addition to walls, towers, a furnace for making weapons, a military meeting room, rations from the soldiers’ quarters, a bread oven, grain stockpiles, a steam room, water tanks, and a mosque built by Prince Hussam al-Din Bagil bin Hamdan, it also has defensive structures.
7- It has Byzantine features, such as a lighthouse built by Emperor Justinian in the sixth century AD on the southern hill to direct ships in the Gulf of Aqaba to support the Byzantine trade route through Ayla.
8- It has a church in the Middle Plain that was uncovered during the 1988–1989 excavation season in the South Sinai antiquities area for Islamic and Coptic antiquities.
9- The Egyptian Antiquities Authority conducted extensive excavations in the citadel in 1986, exposing the tower foundations and the foundations of the defensive, civil, and religious facilities. As a result, the restoration work was completed using the same stones falling from the castle buildings by archaeological standards.
10- One of the historical records confirming Egypt’s ownership of Taba was a book about the history of the castle and its structural components published in 1986 by the Egyptian Antiquities Authority. It was building a board for the construction of fortifications and a defensive wall, as well as a furnace for the fabrication of weapons inside the castle. Recently, the lighting system in the court was updated, giving it a fresh appearance that makes it look to visitors like a royal crown decorating the head of the Gulf of Aqaba, upon which the Egyptian flag flutters.
Summary
Pharaoh Island, which is in the far north-east of Egypt between the Taba mountain range and plateaus, overlooking the Gulf of Aqaba and covering an area of 508.8 acres with a population of about 3,000 people, is one of the many picturesque views and charming islands that Egypt is home to. The island is notable for the possibility of watching four countries, namely Egypt, Palestine, Jordan, and Saudi Arabia, and is located about 240 kilometers from Sharm El-Sheikh. The city in Egypt is also distinguished for its mild climate throughout the year. However, the winters can be extremely chilly.
Don’t miss to check out our Sharm El Sheikh Tours