Thursday August 16, 2018
According to history, the Punt Civilization is an unknown and
mysterious civilization that existed in Africa centuries and centuries
ago. Many readings will describe it as an early civilisation that
existed long before the development of a culture that found it necessary
to record its history.
The Punt Civilization was first discovered through historical scripts
in ancient Egypt. Deciphered Egyptian hieroglyphics indicate
their extensive trade and socialisation. Gold from Punt is recorded in
Egyptian history as early as the 4th century. They also traded with
ancient Greece providing ebony, myrth, silk, gold, scented perfumes and
other precious minerals.
The Civilization was a wealthy one that produced and traded gold,
ebony and silk. The people of Punt were wealthy traders who explored
other civilisations creating strong bonds and promoting peace. Nothing
is known of how the civilisation ended or the people that inhabited it,
but they were commonly called the “the people of the gods’ by ancient
Egyptians.
The exact location of Punt has been a debate since the discovery of
its existence. Many scholars first predicted that the civilisation could
have been a myth or existed at the outskirts of Egypt towards Yemen
making it a thriving civilisation outside of Africa. But recent studies
that carefully examined their expeditions have concluded that the
civilisation was actually in Somalia.
The proof of these claims is very evident as for so many reasons.
Studies from ancient Greece indicate that the Punt traders sailed
from the northeast through the red sea. The Greek referred to the Punts
as Opene, also known as Pouen by ancient historians. In ancient Arabic
history, the city of Opene was in Somalia. Ancient Egyptian history also
indicates that Punt was located northeast of ancient Egypt. At the
time, the Egyptians referred to the Punts as Pwene or Pwene which
translates to Pouen.
The Puntland State of Somalia is an ancient Kingdom that still exists
today. The State is located in the northeastern part of Somalia and is a
description that largely fits the location of the ancient Punt
Civilization.
Scholars have argued that modern-day Somali Puntland founders were
inspired by the ancient kingdom, but more recent findings of small
pyramidal structures, stone ruins, caves and buildings in northeast
Somaliland give proof to the fact that the thriving civilisation indeed
existed in Somalia.
During the constant tradings with Egypt, records indicate that
Queen Hatshepsut, the fifth pharaoh and second female pharaoh of Egypt
built a fleet on the Red Sea to help facilitate trade between the two
civilizations. She also made a trip to the ancient city bringing with
her a few things back to Egypt.
Egyptian history indicates monuments, copper and Carved amulets were
many of the gifts that were brought into Egypt from Punt. However, the
only findings include a painting depicting the Queen of Punt at the time
of the pharaoh Hatshepsut’s visit and a tree made of metal that still
stands in front of Hatshepsut’s temple.
The only other depictions of the Punt Civilization are paintings from historical readings and a few other carvings in Egypt.
Whether scholars like to admit it or not, Punt Civilization is
genuinely African originating in Somalia extending to modern-day
Djibouti and Eritrea.