Himilco: Difference between revisions
Rescuing 1 sources and tagging 0 as dead.) #IABot (v2.0 |
m Fixed grammar and clarified some sentences to improve readability. Made no substantial changes to content. |
||
| Line 1: | Line 1: | ||
{{other people}} |
{{other people}} |
||
__NOTOC__ |
__NOTOC__ |
||
'''Himilco''' was a [[Carthaginian (people)|Carthaginian]] navigator and [[exploration|explorer]] who lived during |
'''Himilco''' was a [[Carthaginian (people)|Carthaginian]] navigator and [[exploration|explorer]] who lived during the late 6th or early 5th century BCE, 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]]. |
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 CE.<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> |
||
Little is known of Himilco himself. 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> 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]]. Avienus asserts that the outward journey to the Oestriminis took the Carthaginians four months.<ref name=Pliny>[http://www.livius.org/hi-hn/himilco/himilco.html Himilco]</ref> Himilco was not (according to Avienus) the first to sail the northern Atlantic Ocean; according to Avienus, Himilco followed the trade route used by the [[Tartessus|Tartessians]] of southern Iberia.{{fact|date=February 2016}} |
|||
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>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> |
||
Revision as of 22:24, 19 February 2020
Himilco was a Carthaginian navigator and explorer who lived during the late 6th or early 5th century BCE, 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 Rufus Festus Avienus, who wrote Ora Maritima, a poetical account of the geography in the 4th century CE.[2]
Little is known of Himilco himself. Himilco sailed north along the Atlantic coast from the Iberian Peninsula to the British Isles.[3] 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. Avienus asserts that the outward journey to the Oestriminis took the Carthaginians four months.[4] Himilco was not (according to Avienus) the first to sail the northern Atlantic Ocean; according to Avienus, Himilco followed the trade route used by the Tartessians of southern Iberia.[citation needed]
Himilco described his journeys as quite harrowing, repeatedly reporting sea monsters and seaweed,[5] 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.[6]
See also
References
Citations
- ^ Pliny the Elder, Natural History 2.169a
- ^ 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
- ^ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2014-02-13. Retrieved 2014-03-13.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link) - ^ Himilco
- ^ Avienus, V. 113-128
- ^ 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
- "Himilco in "Livius Articles on ancient history"". Himilco by Jona Lendering. Retrieved 15 February 2019.
- 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.
