Yemen’s Historical Prevalence in the Red Sea Straits Area - by Prof. Shamsaddin Megalommatis

“Further on, after sailing approximately another 300 stades, we reach a point in which the peninsula and the opposite coast of the Berberic land, where lies the port of call that is named Avalites, converge and shape a passage that is not quite long; in this strait the sea is narrow, and approximately 60 stades’ wide. At this very point is the island of Diodorus. For this reason, and because strong wind comes down from the nearby mountains, the navigation through the strait obliges us to deal with very strong currents. At a certain point in the strait lies Okelis, a seashore town belonging to the same kingdom. It is not quite a port of call but rather a natural cove and a harbor, as well as the first shelter for those sailing from seas beyond the straits. Prof. Megalommatis analyzes excerpts of the Periplus of the Erythraean (Red) Sea in a fascinating article that gives new dimensions to the Ancient History of Yemen. Music accompaniment: Persian classical music from Iran