Mons Porphyrites (Mountain of Poryhyry)

Mons Porphyrites (Mountain of Poryhyry) at Gebel Abu Dukhan (Father of Smoke) was an extensive Roman mining operation of the pinkish-purple Poryhyry, which was used in temples, baths, sarcophagi and statues. The emperor Hadrian erected the Temple of Serapis, and a stele discovered in 1823 indicates that there was a Christian church, probably financed by Flavius Julius. The Romans also built a fort, stables, cisterns and wells.