Punt offered ELECTRUM(a gold and silver mixture),
gold, ivory, myrrh, incense, skins, boomerangs, cosmet-
ics, spices, wild animals, resins, ebony, and aromatic
gums in trade. Egypt’s actual trade with Punt dates to the
reign of SAHURÉ(2458–2446 B.C.E.), possibly earlier. In
the Sixth Dynasty (2323–2150 B.C.E.) an Egyptian died
while building a trading fleet on the Red Sea. Pepi II
(2246–2152 B.C.E.) sent many expeditions to Punt, called
“the land of the god.” MYRRH, used as incense in religious
festivals and rites, was imported in vast quantities and
commonly tallied by scribes as a result of these trading
ventures. Myrrh trees were also planted in the temple
compounds.
In the Middle Kingdom, MONTUHOTEP II(r. 2061–
2010 B.C.E.), SENWOSRET I(r. 1971–1926 B.C.E.), AMEN-
EMHET II(r. 1929–1892 B.C.E.), and other pharaohs sent
Columned corridors dating to the New Kingdom
B.C.E.) such trade journeys were increased, and HATSHEP-
SUT(r. 1473–1458 B.C.E.) is well connected to this prac-
tice. Reliefs from her period depict the gathering of
goods, the loading of vessels in Punt, return voyages, and
the presentation of the trade wares in Thebes. Weights
and measures are recorded as well.
TUTHMOSISIII(r. 1479–1425 B.C.E.), AMENHOTEPIII(r.
1391–1353 B.C.E.), HOREMHAB(r. 1319–1307 B.C.E.), SETI I
(r. 1306–1290 B.C.E.), RAMESSES II(r. 1290–1224 B.C.E.);
and RAMESSES III(r. 1194–1163 B.C.E.) also sent expedi-
tions to Punt during the New Kingdom period. A stela in
Amenhotep III’s mortuary temple mentions Punt. The
HARRIS PAPYRUSfrom Ramesses II’s historical period gives
a depiction of such expeditions. The royal and common
people of Punt came to visit Egypt and were also depicted
in reliefs. The illustrations in a temple in the reign of Hat-
shepsut clearly portray a Puntite family that was brought
to Egypt on one of the expeditions of the time.
A chief is shown with his wife, two sons, and a
daughter. The wife of the chief is portrayed as having
pronounced curvature of the spine and folds of fat on her
arms and ankles. This condition has been diagnosed as
symptoms of various diseases of the African region. These
same reliefs depict Egyptian fleets sailing to and from the
fabled land, a convention that continued in the Ramessid
Period.
Pure Mound A legendary site called Abaton in some
records, the Pure Mound was located on the island of
BIGA, near PHILAE. The PRIMEVAL MOUNDand this site
were all considered the first true portions of the earth
that arose out of NUN, the original dark void or chaos at
the moment of creation.
Puyenré(fl. 15th century B.C.E.)Priestly official of the
Eighteenth Dynasty
He served HATSHEPSUT(r. 1473–1458 B.C.E.) as a high-
ranking priest of the temple of AMUN. It is, however, as an
architect that he is principally remembered. He created
the beautiful shrine of MUTthat Hatshepsut erected, and
he was consulted on other royal building projects.
Puyenré survived Hatshepsut and was accepted by her
successor, TUTHMOSIS III, whose KARNAKbuilding projects
were influenced by his designs. Puyenré was buried with
honors in Thebes. His tomb at QURNAhas reliefs portray-
ing his work, including a session of tallying Asiatic spoils
and tributes.pylon They are the majestic architectural entrance
forms adorning Egyptian temples, dating probably to the
Middle Kingdom (2040–1640 B.C.E.), possibly earlier.
The pyramid and sun temple of NIUSERRÉ(r. 2416–2392
B.C.E.) at ABUSIRand ABU GHUROBdisplay a form of pylon.
The name pylon was taken from the Greek word for gate.
The Egyptian name was bekhenet.
The structure was composed of two battered towers
linked by a masonry bridge with cornices. The flat sur-
face on the top was reserved for rituals honoring the god
RÉ. Most were built over a pile of rubble, but some had
interior chamber and stairs. The pylons were decorated
with reliefs and completed by flagstaffs. The pylon repre-
sented the AKHET(2),the religious symbol for the eternalpylon 319A pylon from the temple of Isis at Philae.(Courtesy Steve
Beikirch.)