Himilco the Navigator

Himilco the Navigator

Himilco (Phoenician Chimilkât), a Carthaginian navigator and explorer, lived during the height of Carthaginian power, the 5th century BC.

Himilco is the first known explorer from the Mediterranean Sea to reach the northwestern shores of Europe. His lost account of his adventures is quoted by Roman writers. The oldest reference to Himilco's voyage is a brief mention in "Pliny's Natural History" (2.169a) by the Roman scholar Pliny the Elder. [ Pliny the Elder, Natural History 2.169a] Himilco was quoted three times by Rufus Festus Avienus, who wrote a poetical account of the geography in the 4th century AD.

We know next to nothing of Himilco himself. Himilco sailed north along the Atlantic coast of present-day Spain, Portugal and France. He reached northwestern France, the territory of the Oestrumnides tribe living in Brittany, probably to trade for tin to be used for making bronze and for other precious metals. Himilco was not (according to Avienus) the first to sail the northern Atlantic ocean; according to Avenius, Himilco followed the trade route used by the Tartessians of southern Iberia. Near Tartessus, the Carthaginians had the trading port city of Gadir (Phoenician גדר "walled city") so it makes sense that Himilco would explore along the coast nearby.

Himilco described his journeys as quite harrowing, repeatedly reporting sea monsters and seaweed, likely in order to deter Greek rivals from competing on their new trade routes. "Avienus' accounts of monsters became one source of the myths discouraging sailing in the Atlantic".Fact|date=March 2008

See also

* List of explorers
* Sargasso Sea

References

*

External links

----


Wikimedia Foundation. 2010.

Игры ⚽ Поможем сделать НИР

Look at other dictionaries:

  • Hanno the Navigator — was a Carthaginian explorer. who flourished c. 500 BC. He was most well known for his naval exploration of the African coast. Etymology This Hanno is called the Navigator to distinguish him from a number of other Carthaginians with this name,… …   Wikipedia

  • Himilco (disambiguation) — Himilco was a very common masculine name in Punic Carthage:*Himilco the Navigator was a Carthaginian navigator and explorer *Himilco (general) (died c. 396 BC) was a Carthaginian general *Himilco (Punic War), a general at Lilybaeum c. 250 BC …   Wikipedia

  • Navigator (disambiguation) — A navigator is the individual responsible for the navigation of a vessel, vehicle or aircraft. Navigator may also refer to: Flight officer, the navigator on an aircraft Navvy, a manual labourer, from navigator or navigational engineer Contents 1… …   Wikipedia

  • History of Carthage — The study of the history of Carthage is often problematic. Due to the subjugation of the civilization by the Romans at the end of the Third Punic War, very few Carthaginian historical primary sources survive. There are a few ancient translations… …   Wikipedia

  • Carthaginian Empire — The Carthaginian Empire was an informal empire of Phoenician city states throughout North Africa and modern Spain from 575 BC until 146 BC. It was more or less under the control of the city state of Carthage after the fall of Tyre to Babylonian… …   Wikipedia

  • Sargasso Sea — The Sargasso Sea is a region in the middle of the North Atlantic Ocean, surrounded by ocean currents. It is bounded on the west by the Gulf Stream; on the north, by the North Atlantic Current; on the east, by the Canary Current; and on the south …   Wikipedia

  • Maharbal — (fl. 2nd century BC) was Hannibal s cavalry commander during the Second Punic War. He was often critical to the success of the side of Carthage over Rome. Throughout his Italian campaign Hannibal maintained an advantage in mounted soldiers and… …   Wikipedia

  • Список известных карфагенян — В список должны включаться все имена граждан древнего Карфагена, сохранившиеся в литературных источниках. Сведения о Карфагене в трудах античных историков достаточно обрывочны и относительно подробно освещают лишь его войны, поэтому известны в… …   Википедия

  • Список карфагенян — В список должны включаться все имена граждан древнего Карфагена, сохранившиеся в литературных источниках. Сведения о Карфагене в трудах античных историков достаточно обрывочны и относительно подробно освещают лишь его войны, поэтому известны в… …   Википедия

  • Mago (Barcid) — Mago, son of Hamilcar Barca, also spelled Magon, Phoenician MGN, God sent (243 BC – 203 BC), was a member of the Barcid family, and played an important role in the Second Punic War, leading forces of Carthage against the Roman Republic in… …   Wikipedia

Share the article and excerpts

Direct link
… Do a right-click on the link above
and select “Copy Link”