Euthymenes

Euthymenes (early sixth century BCE) was a Greek explorer from Massilia (Marseille), who explored the coast of West Africa as far, apparently, as a great river, of which the outflow made the sea at its mouth fresh or brackish. His published accounts are not known but seem to have been known, at least at secondhand, by Plutarch, who writes "Euthymenes the Massilian concludes that the Nile is filled by Oceanus and that sea which is outward from it, the latter being naturally sweet." Euthymenes thought that this river was the Nile, but the river in question may have been the Senegal. (Branigan 1994)

Seneca the Younger also knew Euthymenes' account, which he reported in "Quaestiones naturales" (iv.2.22) and refuted, for various reasons::"Euthymenes of Massilia says by way of testimony, 'I have navigated' says he, 'the Atlantic sea. Now, the Nile flows, greatly, as long as the Etesian Winds endure; for the sea is constantly thrown back by the constant winds; as soon as they have abated and the sea becomes calm, the Nile descends with less force. For the rest, the seawater is fresh to the taste and has wildlife similar to that of the Nile" ["Euthymenes Massiliensis testimonium dicit: 'Nauigaui', inquit, 'Atlanticum mare: inde Nilus fluit, maior, quamdiu etesiae tempus obseruant; tunc enim eicitur mare instantibus uentis. Cum resederunt, et pelagus conquiescit minorque descendenti inde uis Nilo est. Ceterum dulcis mari sapor est et similes Niloticis beluae.'"]

The statue of Euthymenes (by Auguste Ottin) is featured on the façade of the Marseille "bourse".

Notes

References

*Ciaran Branigan, 1994. "The Circumnavigation of Africa", "Classics Ireland" 1. ( [http://www.ucd.ie/classics/classicsinfo/94/Branigan94.html On-line text] ).
*W.W. Hyde, 1947. "Ancient Greek Mariners" (London)
*Seneca, "Quaestiones naturales" ( [http://neptune.fltr.ucl.ac.be/corpora/Concordances/seneque_qn/ligne05.php?numligne=234&mot=e On-line text in Latin and French] )