Okēlis

Information from the Periplus

Ancient Toponym: Okēlis
Place Type: Unspecified
Route: Eastern route
Next on Route: Eudaimōn Arabia
Ancient Area: Arabia
Periplus Chapter: PME, Ch. 25

Topographic info

Longitude 43.65096
Latitude 12.766503
Location Source: Pleiades

Modern Identification: Cheikh Sa’id
Modern Country: Yemen

Passage from the Periplus

About a 300-stade sail past this port, the Arabian mainland and the country of Barbaria across the water in the vicinity of Avalites converge to form a strait, not very long, that contracts the waters and closes them off into a narrow passage; here in the middle of the channel, 60 stades wide, stands Diodoros Island. For this reason, and because a wind blows down from the mountains that lie alongside, the sail through along the island meets strong currents. Along this strait is Okelis, an Arab village on the coast that belongs to the same province; it is not so much a port of trade as a harbor, watering station, and the first place to put in for those sailing on. (from the Casson translation)

Bibliography

Ancient source: nan

Bibliography: Robin, C. (1995). “La Tihama yéménite avant l’Islam: notes d’histoire et de géographie historique,” Arabian archaeology and epigraphy, Vol. 6, p. 222-235: 225.