Gulf of Sidra is a body of water in the
Mediterranean Sea on the northern coast of
Libya; it is also known as
Gulf of Sirte or the
Great Sirte or
Greater Syrtis (Latin
Syrtis Major,
Greek , contrasting with
Syrtis Minor in
Tunisia). The Gulf Of Sidra is part of the Libyan territorial waters. Syrtis is referred to in the
New Testament of the
Bible where the
Apostle Paul relates being sent in chains to
Rome to stand trial before Caesar
Nero. The crew of his ship was worried about being driven by a storm into Syrtis, and took precautions to prevent it, resulting, eventually, in being shipwrecked on the island of
Malta in the
Mediterranean Sea.