Mons Porphyrites archaeological site in Hurghada: the origin of the stones of Ancient Rome

Seen from above, Egypt is a vast desert, and more precisely, the Egyptian sand is part of the great Sahara Desert, which also encompasses Sudan, Chad and Libya. This also includes Sudan, Chad and Libya. 97% of Egypt is covered by the Sahara, and it is here that the famous Egyptian pyramids can be found. In the north of the country, a small oasis of greenery flourishes around the city of Cairo, on the banks of the River Nile. Within this vast expanse of constantly shifting sand and dunes, the Egyptian desert is divided into 3 distinct zones, with very specific characteristics.

The Libyan Desert, also known as the Western Desert, can look very different because of the different types of sand: sometimes rocky, sometimes white, with different reflections depending on the position of the sun. This stretch of sand in the Sahara lies to the west of the River Nile, between the Nile valley and the Tibesti mountains. The Western Desert is also known as the White Desert, due to the chalk that covers the arid soil, from which ghostly rock formations emerge in the wind. This part of the desert is made up of a large sea of sand, otherwise known as quicksand. Although the area has several magnificent oases and incredible lunar landscapes, it's always best to go with a guide to avoid problems.

The Sinai Desert is located in the mountains of northern Egypt, just above the Red Sea, on a peninsula known as the Sinai Peninsula, a landscape of limestone plateaus and arid mountains. Although it borders the Mediterranean Sea to the north, the Sinai Desert remains almost entirely desert territory, with the highest mountains to the south of the peninsula, including Mount St Catherine and Mount Sinai.

This part of the Sahara lies between the Nile and the coast of the Red Sea. This is where Mons Porphyrites and Hurghada are located, where the eye wanders between mountains and small valleys known as "wadis". The Red Sea mountain range stretches from north to south, skirting the coast. These landscapes, between mountains, desert and sea, attract many tourists.

The Mons Porphyrites are ancient quarries in the mountains to the west of Hurghada, used during the Roman Empire to extract rare rocks and minerals such as porphyry. Porphyry is a dark red volcanic rock containing crystals of feldspar, quartz and other minerals. These magnificent stones were used extensively in ancient times, notably for sculptures, ornaments, basins, etc. This almost purplish rock was mined en masse until the 5th century. It was extracted, then dragged down the Nile and transported by boat to Rome. Mons Porphyrites is part of a group of ancient Roman quarries that also includes Mons Claudianus, Mons Ophiates and Tiberiane. Each quarry was chosen for the colour of its semi-precious stones. Today, this area is known as Djébel Abou Dokhan.

A visit to the Roman quarries of Mons Porphyrites is an incredible experience. Set in arid landscapes, you will discover the magnificently preserved remains of the ancient Egyptian city. Half-buried by the sands of the Sahara, workshops, houses and quarries still stand proudly as witnesses to time immemorial.