Glossary entry (derived from question below)
French term or phrase:
le fond du golfe de Suez
English translation:
[controlled] the upper reaches of the Gulf of Suez
Added to glossary by
Christopher Crockett
Apr 30, 2013 13:32
11 yrs ago
French term
le fond du golfe de Suez
French to English
Other
Archaeology
Archaeology 12th Century
A l'époque médiévale , le port de Qolzoum contrôlait le fond du golfe de Suez, fondé sur les ruines de l'antique ville grecque de Clysma.
Proposed translations
(English)
| 4 +6 | controlled the upper reaches of the Gulf of Suez |
Christopher Crockett
|
Change log
May 6, 2013 14:05: Christopher Crockett Created KOG entry
Proposed translations
+6
24 mins
Christopher Crockett
Native in English
Specializes in field
M.A., Ph.D. Historian/Art Historian
Native in: English 
Works in: French to English, English
Related KudoZ points
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131
Selected
controlled the upper reaches of the Gulf of Suez
I see from Wikipedia that this site is "at the northern end of the Gulf of Suez" --must be very close to the modern city of Suez, though I can't find it on a map.
I therefore presume that the town/port[?] controlled "the upper reaches" of the Gulf.
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Note added at 35 mins (2013-04-30 14:07:55 GMT)
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I would prefer "upper reaches" rather than the more literal (and closer to the French) "the bottom of the Gulf" because "bottom" can be somewhat ambiguous --esp. when it is referring to something that is on the top, as far as a map view is concerned. "Upper reaches" is conveniently vague enough, I think.
Presumably, Clysma/Qolzoum also controlled whatever traffic there might have been between the upper Gulf and (overland) Cairo to the immediate west; or, whatever lay immediately north of it, to the Mediterranean (probably not much, before the building of the Canal).
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Note added at 3 hrs (2013-04-30 16:49:41 GMT)
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[Secrets of an Expert:] Look at the Google Map of the Gulf of Suez. http://tinyurl.com/cqkjtg5
I therefore presume that the town/port[?] controlled "the upper reaches" of the Gulf.
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Note added at 35 mins (2013-04-30 14:07:55 GMT)
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I would prefer "upper reaches" rather than the more literal (and closer to the French) "the bottom of the Gulf" because "bottom" can be somewhat ambiguous --esp. when it is referring to something that is on the top, as far as a map view is concerned. "Upper reaches" is conveniently vague enough, I think.
Presumably, Clysma/Qolzoum also controlled whatever traffic there might have been between the upper Gulf and (overland) Cairo to the immediate west; or, whatever lay immediately north of it, to the Mediterranean (probably not much, before the building of the Canal).
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Note added at 3 hrs (2013-04-30 16:49:41 GMT)
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[Secrets of an Expert:] Look at the Google Map of the Gulf of Suez. http://tinyurl.com/cqkjtg5
Note from asker:
| Perfect. I had just translated it as Upper Suez but it just didn't sound right. Upper reaches is perfect. Thank you so much. |
4 KudoZ points awarded for this answer.
Comment: "Well done. Merci."
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