Muza

Author:Laxman Burdak, IFS (R)

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Ancient trading centers in the Horn of Africa and the Arabian peninsula according to the Periplus of the Erythraean Sea

Map of Yemen

Muza and Musa was an important emporion on the Arabian coast of the Red Sea at the Arabia Felix near the Strait of Bab-el-Mandeb in modern Yemen. Now it is inland from the modern port city of Mokha.

Variants

• Ancient Greek: Μύζα and Μοῦσα and Μοῦζα and Μούζα
• Musa
• Mousa
• Muza Emporion
• Mokha

Jat clans

• Musa
• Musawat
• Mojja

Present Mokha

Now it is inland from the modern port city of Mokha due to the recession of the coast.

Mokha

Mokha (Arabic: المُخا, romanized: al-Mukhā), also spelled Mocha, or Mukha, is a port city on the Red Sea coast of Yemen. Until Aden and al Hudaydah eclipsed it in the 19th century, Mokha was the principal port for Yemen's capital, Sanaa. Long known for its coffee trade, the city gave its name to Mocha coffee and chocolate. Near the modern Mocha was the important ancient emporion of Muza. Mocha reached its zenith in the 17th century, owing to its trade in coffee.

History

The city was mentioned at the Periplus of the Erythraean Sea, Pliny the Elder's Natural History and the Ptolemy's Geography.

Pliny describe the Musa as the third port of Arabia Felix. The Periplus of the Erythraean Sea has detailed description of its trade.

Mention by Pliny

Pliny mentions....Passengers generally set sail at midsummer, before the rising of the Dog-star, or else immediately after, and in about thirty days arrive at Ocelis²⁸ in Arabia, or else at Cane²⁹, in the region which bears frankincense. There is also a third port of Arabia, Muza³⁰ by name; it is not, however, used by persons on their passage to India, as only those touch at it who deal in incense and the perfumes of Arabia.

More in the interior there is a city; the residence of the king there is called Sapphar³¹, and there is another city known by the name of Save. To those who are bound for India, Ocelis is the best place for embareation.

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28 Now called Gehla, a harbour and emporium at the south-western point of Arabia Felix.

29 An emporium or promontory on the southern coast of Arabia, in the country of the Adramitæ, and, as Arrian says, the chief port of the increase-bearing country. It has been identified by D'Anville with Cava Canim Bay, near a mountain called Hissan Ghorab, at the base of which there are ruins to be seen.

30 Probably the modern Mosch, north of Mokha, near the southern extremity of Arabia Felix.

31 Its ruins are now known as Dhafar. It was one of the chief cities of Arabia, standing near the southern coast of Arabia Felix, opposite the modern Cape Guardafui.

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