Malaō

Information from the Periplus

Ancient Toponym: Malaō
Place Type: Port of trade
Route: Western route
Next on Route: Moundou
Ancient Area: Africa
Periplus Chapter: PME, Ch. 8

Topographic info

Longitude 45.013109
Latitude 10.420294
Location Source: Pleiades

Modern Identification: Berbera
Modern Country: Somaliland

Passage from the Periplus

After Avalites, about an 800-stade sail distant, comes another, better, port of trade called Malao. Its harbor is an open roadstead sheltered by a promontory extending from the east. Its inhabitants are rather peaceable. This place offers a market for the aforementioned as well as for: tunics in quantity; cloaks from Arsinoe, cleaned and dyed; drinking vessels; honey pans (?), in limited number; iron; Roman money, in limited quantity, both gold and silver. Exports from this area are: myrrh, a little “far-side” incense; a rather harsh cassia, duaka, kankamon, makeir, which items are exported to Arabia; on rare occasions slaves. (from the Casson translation)

Bibliography

Ancient source: nan

Bibliography: nan