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The Pharaoh Island is situated at
a few kilometers away from the Taba’s South, at the Gulf of
Aqaba’s top, in Egypt. The island has a medieval atmosphere due
to the fortifications that were restored. The Pharaoh Island` s
history is very complex and also interesting. The first natural
harbor of the island was built by Hiram, the Tyre’s king between
969 and 936 BC. He was a friend of Solomon and David and he
built the first constructions of the island. Hiram was
interested in this island for trading purposes with Egypt.
Hiram’s name can be founded in the Bible, as he gave gold and
cedar for the Jerusalem Temple. During the Hiram` s reign, Tyre
was among the Mediterranean most important cities. After 2000
years the Pharaoh Island was occupied by the Byzantines; after
them the Crusaders came in the 12th century. The next conqueror
of the island was Salah ad-Din who reconstructed the Byzantine
fortifications and the Crusader` s ones and he also improved the
defense of the island. There is one story about the Pharaoh
Island that is not very popular and that implies Lawrence of
Arabia. In 1914, while Lawrence was in a expedition in Sinai, he
asked the permission to see the Pharaoh Island as well as the
ruins; at that time the island was under the Ottoman Empire’s
control and his request was denied. Lawrence tried to defy the
refusal by securing a boat but he failed and made a raft; he and
his people swam with this raft over the bay. At that time
Lawrence of Arabia was 26 years old and this episode was a real
adventure for him; an adventure brought by the curiosity of
seeing the Pharaoh Island. |
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