Tor, City

1694. The great historical, geographical and poetical dictionary by Louis Moreri.

Tor, or Eltor, a Town and Port of the Red Sea in Arabia Petraea, with a Castle, which has a Turkish Garison. It lies 40 Leagues from Suez, and is the most famous of that Coast as well for Commerce, as for the Buildings, and Politeness of its Inhabitants, who are most of them Jacobite Christians. There are also some Greek Monks in the Monastery of St. Catherine, who correspond with those of Mount Sinai, which is but about 18 Leagues thence. They say in this Country, that it was here Moses cross'd the Red Sea between Tor and Suez, which is now a barren Desert without Water. Within three Leagues of Suez are Wells called Moses's Wells, and are said to have been made by him after he pass'd the Red Sea. The Arabians have great Veneration for them, but do not all agree that this is the Passage of the Israelites, for some are of Opinion Moses passed by Corondol, which is 15 Leagues from Suez, and 25 from Tor. Marmol of Afr.