The Land of Punt and Egypt

 

The Land of Punt is described in ancient Egyptian texts as "The Land of the Gods" and a region rich in resources.

Egypt grew as a nation as trade increased beginning in the latter part of the Predynastic Period (c. 6000-3150 BCE). By the Early Dynastic Period (c. 3150-2613 BCE) trade was firmly established with regions in Mesopotamia and Phoenicia. By the time of the Fifth Dynasty (c. 2498-2345 BCE) Egypt was flourishing through trade with these areas and especially the Phoenician city of Byblos and the countries of Nubia and Punt. Punt was not only a significant partner in trade, however; it was also a source of cultural and religious influence and a land which the Egyptians viewed as their place of origin and blessed by the gods.

The Land of Punt was long associated with the gods and Egypt's legendary past partly because so many of the materials from Punt were used in temple rituals. The leopard skins from Punt were worn by priests, the gold became statuary, the incense was burned in the temples. A deeper association, however, sprang from the belief that the gods who blessed Egypt had an equal affection for Punt. Hatshepsut, as mentioned, claimed Hathor came from Punt and there is evidence that one of the most popular Egyptian gods of childbirth, Bes, (known as the Dwarf God) also came from Punt as did others.

Punt came to hold a deep fascination for the Egyptian people as a "land of plenty" and was known as Te Netjer, the land of the gods, from which all good things came to Egypt. Punt was also associated with Egyptian ancestry in that it came to be seen as their ancient homeland and, further, the land where the gods emerged from and consorted with each other. Exactly why Punt was elevated from reality into mythology is not known but, after the reign of Ramesses III, the land receeded further and further in the minds of the Egyptians until it was lost in legend and folklore.

In the decades after Jean-Francois Champollion first deciphered Egyptian heiroglyphics in 1822 CE, and western scholars began reading Egyptian texts, questions arose as to where Punt was located and what it is called in the modern world.

The exact location of the Land of Punt is still disputed by historians, scholars, archaeologists, and others in the present day. Through the years it has been cited as part of Arabia, present-day Somalia or the Puntland State of Somalia at the Horn of Africa, the Sudan, Eritrea, or some other internal region of east Africa. The debate continues as to where Punt was located with scholars and historians on every side offering plausible supports for their claims. The two best possibilities are Eritrea and Somalia with Eritrea so far gaining the most widespread acceptance.

It would seem, however, from the reliefs telling of the expedition carved on Hatshepsut's temple at Deir al-Bahri, that Punt was likely located in present day Puntland State of Somalia. According to historian Abdisalam Mahamoud, the ancient Somali name for their region was "Bunn", a name referenced in texts regarding trade with Egypt as "Pwenet" or "Pwene", and the region is known as "Bunni" in the present day. The culture of Puntland State of Somalia bears a number of striking resemblances to that of ancient Egypt including language, ceremonial dress, and the arts.

Today, the people of Somalia honor their ancient relationship with Egypt by keeping alive the language and customs. Historian Abdislam Mahamoud cites English linguist Charles Barber in describing how the language of ancient Egyptian belonged to the Hamitic group of languages which are still spoken "across a large part of North Africa and include Somali". Mahamoud comments on this citing how people in modern-day Somalia continue to name their children after the ancient Egyptian gods, one example being the modern "Oraxthy" from the ancient Egyptian "Horakhty". Although the Land of Punt slowly vanished into mythology in ancient Egypt, its rich heritage continued on and is preserved in the present day by those who remember and honor their past.