Exploration?

[Dominicus]

Much thanks all.

And lets not forget about all them alleged Griffins out there as well guarding there gold! :mrgreen:

[ValentinianVictrix]

According to Wikipedia (which as serious as I can muster this morning :roll: ):

The [Canary] islands were visited by the Phoenicians, the Greeks, and the Carthaginians. According to the 1st century AD Roman author and philosopher Pliny the Elder, the archipelago was found to be uninhabited when visited by the Carthaginians under Hanno the Navigator, but that they saw ruins of great buildings.[25] This story may suggest that the islands were inhabited by other peoples prior to the Guanches. King Juba, Augustus's Roman protege, is credited with discovering the islands for the Western world. He dispatched a naval contingent to re-open the dye production facility at Mogador in what is now western Morocco in the early 1st century AD.[26] That same naval force was subsequently sent on an exploration of the Canary Islands, using Mogador as their mission base.

No report on dragon sightings. :wink:

This is very curious as the 'ruins of great buildings' on Tenerife may well be these- http://www.canaries-live.com/UK/pyramids.html

There have been strenous efforts to 'debunk' these pyramids, and this wikiarticle, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pyramids_o ... C%C3%ADmar makes absolutely no mention of the Spanish woodcarvings from the 15/16th Century depicting the native 'Guanches' standing on these platforms.

[Ron Andrea]

Just looking at the pictures, they seem in awfully good repair to be so old. Maybe they were buried much of that time, or modern folks have "re-constructed" them as has been done to Stonehenge and the Athenian Parthenon. :roll:

While the lower terraces could be agricultural, then central stack looks more like a temple mound, such as you'd find in meso-America. No wonder Thor Heyerdahl spun theories about them. :wink:

Since the Romans and Carthaginians got there, it's easy to see how they may have picked up information about the pyramids. Though I notice the Canary structures seem to be dry-stacked stones--not dressed nor mortared.

[Dominicus]

Well I do wonder exactly how far down the west coast of Africa they sailed. Somehow I cant buy them cowering just outside the Pillars of Hercules not wanting move further out,to not only seek potential trade south along the coast,but also along the Gallic coastline towards Britannia.

[Epictetus]

The Romans were familiar with some part of the Atlantic coast of Africa. The Tabula Peutingeriana shows a road along the coast, and doubtlessly traders passed south outside of Roman controlled territory.

The Phoenicians most likely circled Africa, but later generations were doubtful this was possible.

[M. Demetrius]

Reportedly, the southern tip of Africa is a dangerous part of the ocean. In an open boat like the kind that was available to the Greeks, Romans, Phoenicians, etc., it would be even more dangerous. Just a very heavy rain coupled with high seas would be exceedingly perilous for the people and equipment. Some might have been fortunate enough to make it around, but then what? If they followed around through what's now the Persian Gulf, would they have reached India? If so, do we find any record of a sea trade?

It's a mighty long way from the Mediterranean around Africa to India and back. Shorter and safer to go overland. Probably faster, too.

[ValentinianVictrix]

Reportedly, the southern tip of Africa is a dangerous part of the ocean. In an open boat like the kind that was available to the Greeks, Romans, Phoenicians, etc., it would be even more dangerous. Just a very heavy rain coupled with high seas would be exceedingly perilous for the people and equipment. Some might have been fortunate enough to make it around, but then what? If they followed around through what's now the Persian Gulf, would they have reached India? If so, do we find any record of a sea trade?

It's a mighty long way from the Mediterranean around Africa to India and back. Shorter and safer to go overland. Probably faster, too.

If memory serves was not the ancient trading port on the West Coast of India that was believe to be a place were Roman ships visited recently rediscovered?

I think it might be this one- http://www.telegraphindia.com/1090803/j ... 313800.jsp