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{{short description|Carthaginian navigator and explorer}}
{{other people}}
{{other people}}
'''Himilco''' (Phoenician '''Chimilkât'''),<ref name=Pliny>[http://www.livius.org/hi-hn/himilco/himilco.html Himilco]</ref> a [[Carthage|Carthaginian]] navigator and [[exploration|explorer]], lived during the height of Carthaginian power, the 5th century BC.
'''Himilco''' was a [[Carthaginian (people)|Carthaginian]] navigator and [[exploration|explorer]] who lived during the late 6th or early 5th century BC, a period of time where Carthage held significant sway over its neighboring regions.


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 ''[[Natural History (Pliny)|Natural History]]'' (2.169a) by the Roman scholar [[Pliny the Elder]].<ref>Pliny the Elder, Natural History 2.169a</ref> Himilco was quoted three times by [[Rufus Festus Avienus]], who wrote ''Ora Maritima'', a poetical account of the geography in the 4th century AD.<ref>Avienus, Rufius Festus and Murphy, J. P. (1977) ''Ora maritima: or, description of the seacoast from Brittany round to Massilia''. Ares Publisher, ISBN 0-89005-175-5</ref>
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 ''[[Natural History (Pliny)|Natural History]]'' (2.169a) by the Roman scholar [[Pliny the Elder]].<ref>Pliny the Elder, Natural History 2.169a</ref> Himilco was quoted three times by [[Rufius Festus Avienius]], who wrote ''[[Ora Maritima]]'', a poetical account of the geography in the 4th century AD. <ref>Avienus, Rufius Festus and Murphy, J. P. (1977) ''Ora maritima: or, description of the seacoast from Brittany round to Massilia''. Ares Publisher, {{ISBN|0-89005-175-5}}</ref>


We know next to nothing of Himilco himself. Himilco sailed north along the [[Atlantic Ocean|Atlantic]] coast of present-day [[Spain]], [[Portugal]], [[England]]<ref>http://britannia.com/celtic/scotland/timeline/index.html</ref> and [[France]]. He reached northwestern [[France]], the territory of the [[Oestriminis|Oestrimini]] tribe living in [[Portugal]] probably to trade for [[tin]] to be used for making [[bronze]] and for other precious metals, the voyages of the Carthaginian Himilco take note of the islands of [[Albion]] and [[Ireland|Ierne]]. Avienus asserts that the outward journey to the Oestriminis took the Carthaginians four months.<ref name=Pliny/> 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 [[Tartessus|Tartessians]] of southern Iberia. (needs source)
Little is known of Himilco himself. Some believe that Himilco sailed north along the [[Atlantic Ocean|Atlantic]] coast from the [[Iberian Peninsula]] to the [[British Isles]].<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://britannia.com/celtic/scotland/timeline/index.html |title=Archived copy |access-date=2014-03-13 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140213004847/http://britannia.com/celtic/scotland/timeline/index.html |archive-date=2014-02-13 |url-status=dead }}</ref> However, no hard archeological or DNA evidence has been found to suggest that he arrived in Britain, nor is his voyage mentioned by subsequent English (Bede) or Irish historians. He traveled to northwestern [[France]], as well as the territory of the [[Oestriminis|Oestrimini]] tribe living in [[Portugal]], likely in order to trade for [[tin]] (to be used for making [[bronze]]) and other precious metals. Records of the voyages of Himilco also mention the islands of [[Albion]] and [[Ireland|Ierne]]. [[Avienius]] asserts that the outward journey to the Oestriminis took the Carthaginians four months.<ref name=Pliny>{{Cite web |url=https://www.livius.org/hi-hn/himilco/himilco.html |title=Himilco |access-date=2020-03-26 |archive-date=2014-12-05 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141205080613/http://www.livius.org/hi-hn/himilco/himilco.html |url-status=dead }}</ref> Himilco followed the northern Atlantic trade route used by the [[Tartessus|Tartessians]] of southern Iberia, according to Avienius.<ref>[[Avienius]], [[Ora Maritima]], lines 112-118</ref>


Himilco described his journeys as quite harrowing, repeatedly reporting [[sea monsters]] and seaweed,<ref>Avienus, V. 113-128</ref> likely in order to deter Greek rivals from competing on their new trade routes. Carthaginian accounts of monsters became one source of the myths discouraging sailing in the Atlantic.<ref>Roller, Duane W. (2006). ''Through the pillars of Herakles: Greco-Roman exploration of the Atlantic''. Taylor & Francis, pp. 27-28. ISBN 0-415-37287-9</ref>
Himilco described his journeys as quite harrowing, repeatedly reporting [[sea monsters]] and seaweed,<ref>Avienius, V. 113-128</ref> likely in order to deter Greek rivals from competing on their new trade routes. Carthaginian accounts of monsters became one source of the myths discouraging sailing in the Atlantic.<ref>Roller, Duane W. (2006). ''Through the pillars of Herakles: Greco-Roman exploration of the Atlantic''. Taylor & Francis, pp. 27-28. {{ISBN|0-415-37287-9}}</ref>


== See also ==
== See also ==
* [[List of explorers]]
* [[Hanno the Navigator]]
* [[Hanno the Navigator|Periplus of Hanno]]
* [[Hanno the Navigator#Periplus account|Periplus of Hanno]]
* [[Avienus]]
* [[Periplus]]
* [[Cassiterides]]


== References ==
== References ==
===Citations===
⚫
{{reflist|30em}}


===Bibliography===
⚫
{{reflist}}
*{{Cite book |last=Cassidy |first=Vincent H. |title=The Sea Around Them, The Atlantic Ocean, A.D. 1250 |publisher=Louisiana State University Press |year=1968 |location=Baton Rouge}}
* {{cite web | title=Himilco in "Livius Articles on ancient history" | work=Himilco by Jona Lendering | url=http://www.livius.org/hi-hn/himilco/himilco.html | accessdate=7 April 2009 }}
* {{cite journal |first=Alfredo |last=González-Ruibal |title=Past the Last Outpost: Punic Merchants in the Atlantic Ocean (5th–1st century BC) |journal=Journal of Mediterranean Archaeology |volume=19 |issue=1 |year=2006 |pages=121–150 |doi=10.1558/jmea.v19i1.121 }}
*{{Cite web |last=Lendering |first=Jona |date=2001 |title=Himilco |url=https://www.livius.org/articles/person/himilco/ |website=Livius.org, Articles on Ancient History}}


==External links==
==External links==
* [http://www.thelatinlibrary.com/avienus.ora.html/ Rufus Festus Avienus ora maritima in Latin]
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20130206160651/http://thelatinlibrary.com/avienus.ora.html Rufus Festus Avienius ora maritima in Latin]

{{Famous Carthaginians}}
{{Famous Carthaginians}}


{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Himilco The Navigator}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Himilco The Navigator}}
[[Category:Carthaginians]]
[[Category:Carthaginians]]
[[Category:Ancient explorers]]
[[Category:Ancient explorers]]
[[Category:5th-century BC people]]
[[Category:5th-century BC writers]]
[[Category:Navigators]]
[[Category:Navigators]]
[[Category:Exploration of Europe]]
[[Category:Explorers of Europe]]
[[Category:Monarchs of Carthage]]
[[Category:Peripluses]]
[[Category:5th-century BC Punic people]]
[[Category:6th-century BC Punic people]]

Latest revision as of 05:48, 3 January 2025

For other people named Himilco, see Himilco (disambiguation).

Himilco was a Carthaginian navigator and explorer who lived during the late 6th or early 5th century BC, a period of time where Carthage held significant sway over its neighboring regions.

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 Natural History (2.169a) by the Roman scholar Pliny the Elder.[1] Himilco was quoted three times by Rufius Festus Avienius, who wrote Ora Maritima, a poetical account of the geography in the 4th century AD. [2]

Little is known of Himilco himself. Some believe that Himilco sailed north along the Atlantic coast from the Iberian Peninsula to the British Isles.[3] However, no hard archeological or DNA evidence has been found to suggest that he arrived in Britain, nor is his voyage mentioned by subsequent English (Bede) or Irish historians. He traveled to northwestern France, as well as the territory of the Oestrimini tribe living in Portugal, likely in order to trade for tin (to be used for making bronze) and other precious metals. Records of the voyages of Himilco also mention the islands of Albion and Ierne. Avienius asserts that the outward journey to the Oestriminis took the Carthaginians four months.[4] Himilco followed the northern Atlantic trade route used by the Tartessians of southern Iberia, according to Avienius.[5]

Himilco described his journeys as quite harrowing, repeatedly reporting sea monsters and seaweed,[6] likely in order to deter Greek rivals from competing on their new trade routes. Carthaginian accounts of monsters became one source of the myths discouraging sailing in the Atlantic.[7]

See also

[edit]

References

[edit]

Citations

[edit]
  1. ^ Pliny the Elder, Natural History 2.169a
  2. ^ Avienus, Rufius Festus and Murphy, J. P. (1977) Ora maritima: or, description of the seacoast from Brittany round to Massilia. Ares Publisher, ISBN 0-89005-175-5
  3. ^ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2014-02-13. Retrieved 2014-03-13.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  4. ^ "Himilco". Archived from the original on 2014-12-05. Retrieved 2020-03-26.
  5. ^ Avienius, Ora Maritima, lines 112-118
  6. ^ Avienius, V. 113-128
  7. ^ Roller, Duane W. (2006). Through the pillars of Herakles: Greco-Roman exploration of the Atlantic. Taylor & Francis, pp. 27-28. ISBN 0-415-37287-9

Bibliography

[edit]
  • Cassidy, Vincent H. (1968). The Sea Around Them, The Atlantic Ocean, A.D. 1250. Baton Rouge: Louisiana State University Press.
  • González-Ruibal, Alfredo (2006). "Past the Last Outpost: Punic Merchants in the Atlantic Ocean (5th–1st century BC)". Journal of Mediterranean Archaeology. 19 (1): 121–150. doi:10.1558/jmea.v19i1.121.
  • Lendering, Jona (2001). "Himilco". Livius.org, Articles on Ancient History.
[edit]
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