Here we have the words of Hanno the Navigator, famed Carthaginian explorer and one of the earliest accounts of West Africa that has survived to the present day.
Saved from the burning remains of Carthage by a Greek translation, the text itself allegedly hung on a temple wall along with the dried gorilla skins mentioned in his story for almost three hundred years, before Carthage was finally crushed entirely by Rome.
Head over to Archaia Istoria for analysis of the text!
• Hanno the Navigator
As is often the case with texts of this age, many of the locations are a source of much debate amongst modern (and indeed ancient) historians, so do continue the debate in the comments.
This is a collaboration between more than twenty history youtubers as part of #projectafrica:
• Project Africa
Particular shout out to History with Cy: • Introduction to Ancient Nubia and the King...
and Cogito... • Who Are The San Bushmen? | The World's Old...
And finally, of course, History Time, who has something very special...
How do we actually know about history? Voices of the Past is a channel dedicated to recreating the original accounts from the people who lived through events, or who lived far closer to them than we do today. We do this word for word, with an accompanying soundtrack of rousing music and images.
— Thanks for watching! Don’t forget to subscribe for new videos every single week! & Let us know in the comments what you’d like to see covered in the future.
— Don’t forget to subscribe to our other channel History Time, where we make full length historical documentaries:- / historytime
— Music courtesy of:- Epidemic Sound
— Voice actor & editor:- David Kelly
We try to use copyright free images at all times. However if we have used any of your artwork or maps then please don't hesitate to contact me and we’ll be more than happy to give the appropriate credit.
AI Generated·May contain errors
Video Summary
AI Generated
This account details the expedition of Hanno, King of Carthage, who led a fleet of 65 ships and 30,000 people beyond the Pillars of Heracles. The voyage focused on establishing Libyphoenician cities and exploring the western African coast, encountering diverse wildlife, hostile indigenous populations, and mysterious geographical landmarks before returning to Carthage due to dwindling supplies.
This is the account of Hanno, king of Carthage, about his voyage to the Libyan lands beyond the
Pillars of Heracles, which he also set up in the Shrine of Kronos. The Carthaginians ordered Hanno
to sail out of the Pillars of Heracles and found a number of Libyphoenician cities. He set sail
with 65-odd ships, about 30,000 men and women, food and other equipment. After sailing beyond
the Pillars for two days, we founded our first city, called Thimiaterion. Below it was a large
plain. Sailing westward from there, we arrived at Sodorias, a Libyan promontory covered with trees.
Here, we dedicated a temple to Poseidon. Sailing to the east for half a day, we reached a lake.
It was not far from the sea and was covered with many long reeds, from which elephants and other
wild animals were eating. After our visit to the lake, we sailed on for one day. By the sea,
we founded cities, called Karakon Techos, Gite, Akra, Melitta and Arambis. Continuing our voyage
from there, we reached the Lyksos, a large river flowing from Libya. The Lyksites, a nomadic tribe,
were pasturing their cattle beside it. We remained with them for some time and became friends.
Beyond them, hostile Ethiopians occupied a land full of wild animals. It was surrounded by the
great mountains from which the Lyksos flows down. According to the Lyksites, strange people dwell
among these mountains, cavemen who run faster than horses. When we had got interpreters from
the Lyksites, we sailed along the desert shore for two days to the south. After sailing eastward for
one day, we found in the recess of a bay a small island which had a circumference of five stades.
We left settlers there and called it Kern. We calculated from this journey that this island
lay opposite Carthage. For the time, sailing from Carthage to the Pillars and from there to Kern
was the same. Sailing from there, we crossed a river called Churetes and reached a bay which
contained three islands bigger than Kern. After a day's sail from here, we arrived at the end of
the bay, which was overhung by some very great mountains, crowded with savages clad in animal
skin. By throwing stones, they prevented us from disembarking and drove us away. Leaving from there,
we arrived at another large broad river teeming with crocodiles and hippopotamuses. Returning
from there, we went back to Kern. From there, we sailed to the south for twelve days. We remained
close to the coast which was entirely inhabited by Ethiopians who fled from us when we approached.
Even to our Lixites, their language was unintelligible. On the last day, we anchored
by some big mountains. They were covered with trees whose wood was aromatic and colourful.
Sailing around the mountains for two days, we came to an immense expanse of sea beyond
which on the landward side was a plain. During the night, we observed big and small fires everywhere
flaming up at intervals. Taking on water there, we continued for five days along the coast
until we reached a great bay which, according to our translators, was the Horn of the West.
There was a large island in it and in it a lagoon which was salt like the sea and on it another
island. Here, we disembarked. In daytime, we could see nothing but the forest but during the night,
we noticed many fires alight and heard the sounds of flutes, the beatings of cymbals and tom-toms
and the shouts of a multitude. We grew afraid and our diviners advised us to leave this island.
Quickly and in fear, we sailed away from that place. Sailing on for four days, we saw the coast
by night full of flames. In the middle was a big flame, taller than the others and apparently
rising to the stars. By day, this turned out to be a very high mountain which was called
Chariot of the Gods. Sailing thence along the torrents of fire, we arrived after three days
at a bay called Horn of the South. In this gulf was an island resembling the first with a lagoon
within which was another island full of savages. Most of them were women with hairy bodies whom
our interpreters called gorillas. Although we chased them, we could not catch any males.
They all escaped being good climbers who defended themselves with stones. However, we caught three
women who refused to follow those who carried them off, biting and clawing them. So, we killed
and flayed them and brought their skins back to Carthage for we did not sail any further because
our provisions were running short.
