Around 1500 BC, the Egyptian queen Hatshepusu sent people to the sea to explore the legendary state of Ponte, and left a more detailed written record. Later scholars deduced that the ancient state of Ponte was in present-day Somalia, so the records of the Queen's expedition also allowed the outside world to glimpse the earliest picture of life in Somalia.
In fact, long before Queen Hartshepsus, ancient Egypt began to communicate with the state of Ponte. According to the inscription, both the 25th century BC and the 20th century BC Egyptian kings sent people to Ponte to bring back specialties such as spices from there. It was only later that Egypt no longer encouraged exploration, and this sea trade stopped. And there is no detailed record except for the words of the inscription, so the strange "spice country" of Ponte began to become a mysterious legend.
Hatshepsou
Queen Hartshepsus wanted to rediscover the state of Ponte because of Egypt's economic downturn. At that time, many trades were monopolized by foreigners, and Egyptians bought things very expensive every day. The most expensive is spices, and the queen believes in the sun god, built a temple, just sacrificed, every year to tens of millions of kilograms of spices, such a large expenditure, dragged down the state finances.
Samte, the Queen's adviser, suggested why not explore the fabled "Spice Country"? Not only can it solve the spice problem, but it can also regain the long-interrupted overseas trade and make some money for the country. Many ministers objected, because the exact location of the state of Ponte is not recorded in detail in the inscription, but only roughly judged by legend that it is near the Red Sea. So unreliable, how to find?
But the Queen pushed back the crowd and supported the idea. She sent an official named Sinai to lead the team, carrying 20 boats, according to the "instructions" of the sun god, through the Nile into the Red Sea, and then along the west bank of the Red Sea south.
The fleet drifted at sea for several months without progress. Just when the crew was completely desperate and about to turn around and return, they suddenly found that there was a piece of land ahead. The ground swayed with figures, coconut trees, and conical roofs looming from the treetops. Nessy docked the ship and went ashore to inquire that the natives of the place called themselves the Pontes.
Look for Egyptian ships in the country of Ponte
Nessy couldn't believe it was going so smoothly, and asked what specialties were here, and the answer he got was very close to the content of the inscription and the legend. Neasi was very pleased, took out the prepared gifts, and led by the natives, to the palace. Unexpectedly, King Perrihu had heard about it and took Princess Ai Tiyi out of the city to welcome Sinai with a grand ceremony.
King Perrihu told Sinai that there were too many spices in the Ponte country, such as cinnamon and "myrrh trees", and that gold and silver minerals were also abundant, as well as medicinal herbs, and various animals that had not been seen anywhere else. So whatever was missing, Ponte exchanged these things, such as vegetables and fruits. So for a long time, the Pont people were inseparable from trade.
Perrihu proudly said that the Pont people could do business with many people, not only their neighbors on land, but also India and Arab countries. He also welcomed the Egyptians to come, because the jewelry brought by Nessi, the princess liked it, and the weapons brought with him were sharper than the native Ponte, so he wanted to be very Egyptian to do business for a long time.
With the help of Perihu, Nesie filled the 20 boats he had brought with him with spices, medicinal herbs, animal skins, etc., and then left all the jewelry and weapons he had brought. As he parted, Perrihu gave his portrait of himself and the princess to Nesi as proof of diplomatic relations with Egypt.
With the opening of Nessi, Egypt's trade with the Ponte kingdom was re-established and lasted for nearly 300 years, only to end with Egypt's weakening.
Images of the kings and princesses of the Ponte in Egyptian temples
The Necy expedition was the largest and most detailed of the previous pont expeditions in Egypt. Not only does the text record the general experience, but also the images of King Perihu's welcoming ceremony are also left in the frescoes of Egyptian temples, giving us the opportunity to observe ancient Somalia up close in our long and obscure history.