A Typical Byblos Ship

A seagoing ship of the Fifth Dynasty. The seagoing craft of the Egyptians differed markedly from their river craft. The vessel here shown under oars belonged to a royal fleet the hogging truss that seems to have been characteristic of Egyptian seagoing craft. The stem-post at the bow reflects the foreign origin of the prototype, whereas the stern-post has been Egyptianized in the form of the head of a papyrus plant. Although referred to in the accompanying inscriptions as "Byblos-ships", the five vessels were in fact part of an expedition sailing the Red Sea to Punt, the modern Somaliland. The rig differs in no way from the standard form in use in Nile ships of the day.