BERENICE, an ancient seaport of Egypt, on the west coast of the Red sea, in 23° 56' N., 34' E. Built at the head of a gulf, the Sinus Immundus, or Foul bay, of Strabo, it was sheltered on the north by Ras Benas. The port is now nearly filled up, has a sand-bar at its entrance and can be reached only by small craft. Remnants of a temple's sculptures and inscriptions preserve the name of Tiberius and figures of deities, including a goddess of the emerald mines. Berenice was founded by Ptolemy II. (285 247 B.c.), and named in honour of his mother. It probably re placed an older town, which had long served as the entrepot of trade between India, Arabia and Upper Egypt. From it a road with watering stations leads north-west across the desert to the Nile at Coptos. In the neighbourhood of Berenice are the emerald mines of Mount Zabara and Saket.