Crossword Genius

Time to take in a strange rite by the Red Sea (7)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

eritrea

I'm a little stuck... Click here to teach me more about this clue!

'the red sea' is the definition.
Although both the answer and definition are singular nouns, I don't understand how they can define each other.

'time to take in a strange rite' is the wordplay.
'time' becomes 'era' (era is a kind of time).
'to take in' is an insertion indicator.
'a strange' indicates an anagram.
'rite' with letters rearranged gives 'itre'.
'era' going around 'itre' is 'ERITREA'.

'by' acts as a link.

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for eritrea that I've seen before include "part of Africa" , "East African country" , "NE African state" , "State north of Ethiopia" , "Eire art found in Africa" .)

I've seen this clue in The Globe and Mail.
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