As-Sallūm

Sallum lies beside a bay on the dry Mediterranean coast between Cyrenaica and Egypt. A steep escarpment rises above the shore, creating a difficult passage for travellers along the coast. Classical writers knew the nearby descent as the Great Catabathmus, a landmark on the route between the two regions. The Arabic name Sallum is associated with the graded ascent of the pass, which remained a distinctive feature of the landscape.