Red Sea is a direct translation of the Greek Erythra Thalassa (Ερυθρά Θάλασσα), Latin Mare Rubrum, Arabic Al-Baḥr Al-Aḥmar (البحر الأحمر), and Tigrinya Qeyḥ bāḥrī.
The name of the sea doesn't indicate the color of the water since it is not red in color. It may signify the seasonal blooms of the red-colored cyanobacteria Trichodesmium erythraeum near the water surface. Some suggest that it refers to the mineral-rich red mountains nearby which are called Harei Edom (הרי אדום). Edom, meaning "ruddy complexion", is also an alternative Hebrew name for the red-faced biblical character Esau (brother of Jacob), and the nation descended from him, the Edomites, which in turn provides yet another possible origin for Red Sea.
Another hypothesis is that the name comes from the Himyarite, a local group whose own name means red.
Yet another theory favored by some modern scholars is the name red is referring to the direction south, the same way the Black Sea's name may refer to north. The basis of this theory is that some Asiatic languages used color words to refer to the cardinal directions. Herodotus on one occasion uses Red Sea and Southern Sea interchangeably.
A final theory suggests that it was named so because it borders the Egyptian Desert which the ancient Egyptians called the Dashret or "red land"; therefore it would have been the sea of the red land.
The association of the Red Sea with the Biblical account of the Exodus, in particular in the Passage of the Red Sea, goes back to the Septuagint translation of the book of Exodus from Hebrew into Koine, in which Hebrew Yam suph (ים סוף), meaning Reed Sea, is translated as Erythra Thalassa (Red Sea). Yam Suph is also the name for the Red Sea in modern Hebrew.
2007-06-05 06:42:07
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answer #1
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answered by yumsorbet 4
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Before we get to the answer, here’s a little geography lesson for you...The Red Sea can be found sandwiched between north-eastern Africa and the Arabian peninsula. This long, narrow body of water makes it a lot easier for marine traffic to get from the Mediterranean Sea to the Indian Ocean.
Now—finally—here’s the answer: no, but sometimes it does look red. A reddish species of cyanobacteria blooms frequently in the Red Sea, giving its normally blue-green waters a reddish look. (Although no one know for sure, this may also be how the Red Sea got its name.)
2007-06-05 06:43:53
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answer #2
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answered by Anonymous
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no the red sea is not red it just looks red because of the red a lgea in the water i dont like red lobster or any kind of sea food
2016-05-17 09:02:34
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answer #3
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answered by ? 3
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No the sea is not red in color. It may get may have got its name from the seasonal blooms of the red-colored cyanobacteria Trichodesmium erythraeum near the waters surface. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Anthia_goldfish.JPG
2007-06-06 02:29:41
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answer #4
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answered by jc 2
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At times, yes it is. Usually, no. It turns red because of the large quantities of a microorganism (I forget the name) that is a redish colour.
2007-06-05 06:00:48
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answer #5
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answered by cyanne2ak 7
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No it's not
2016-07-16 13:59:17
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answer #6
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answered by Anonymous
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NO.it isnt.seas r never red.dey r alwayz blue cuz of hydrogen in dem
2007-06-05 06:04:37
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answer #7
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answered by jessica c 3
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i don't think it's red
2007-06-05 09:17:27
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answer #8
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answered by ♥ Animal Lover ♥ 4
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RED SAND.
2013-12-15 23:07:59
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answer #9
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answered by Anonymous
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algea
2007-06-05 05:53:15
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answer #10
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answered by Ray2play 5
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