Hanno the Navigator

Hanno the Navigator was a explorer from Carthage who lived in the fifth century BC. He is famous for leading a naval journey along the coast of West Africa. The story of his trip comes from a document called a periplus, which was translated into Greek.

Scholars have tried to figure out exactly where Hanno traveled based on this periplus. Some think he may have reached as far south as Gabon, while others believe he did not sail much farther than the southern coast of Morocco. His journey shows how ancient people explored new lands and navigated the seas.

Biography

The name Hanno was used by many people in Carthage. Ancient writings that talk about Hanno the Navigator don’t give us much clear information about who he was exactly. Some writers called him a king, while others used words like dux (leader) or imperator (commander) to describe him. A Greek version of Hanno’s travel report calls him a basileus, a word that can mean “king” but was also used for other important officials in Carthage.

Most historians believe Hanno lived around the 5th century BC and was part of the wealthy Magonid family. Some thinkers think he might have been the son of Hamilcar I.

Periplus account

Hanno the Navigator's journey is recorded in a document called a periplus, which means a description of a sea voyage. This version of the story exists in Greek, though the original was written in the Punic language and has been lost. The Greek copy we have today is shorter and sometimes confusing, but it gives us a glimpse into ancient exploration written by the explorer himself.

The story tells us that Hanno, a king of Carthage, led a fleet of 60 ships with 30,000 people on board. His goal was to establish cities along the coast of Africa beyond the Pillars of Hercules. He founded several settlements, met friendly tribes, and sailed far down the African coast. Along the way, he encountered strange lands, fiery sights, and even a group of hairy, hostile people he called "Gorillas." Eventually, they ran out of supplies and turned back, but the story ends suddenly without telling us how they returned home. Scholars think the original story might have been changed on purpose to keep some details secret.

Expedition

Carthage sent Hanno with a fleet of 60 ships to explore and colonize the northwestern coast of Africa. He sailed west from Carthage, passing through the Strait of Gibraltar and founding or repopulating seven colonies along what is now Morocco. Hanno then continued south along the Atlantic coast, encountering various indigenous peoples.

The desire to secure gold trade routes in sub-Saharan Africa may have motivated this exploration. Scholars debate exactly how far south Hanno traveled, with estimates ranging from Senegal to possibly Gambia, Sierra Leone, Cameroon, or even Gabon. The exact locations remain uncertain due to the vague details in the ancient account of his journey.

Ancient authors' accounts

The story of Hanno's journey was known to important writers from ancient times. The Roman writer Pliny the Elder mentioned Hanno’s trip from a place called Gades (now Cádiz) toward Arabia. Pliny thought Hanno might have sailed all the way around Africa, but modern scholars think this is unlikely.

Another writer, the Greek Arrian of Nicomedia, talked about Hanno sailing from Carthage. He described Hanno traveling east for thirty-five days before facing big challenges like extreme heat. The famous Greek historian Herodotus wrote about trade along the coast of Morocco but may not have known about Hanno’s specific voyage.

Legacy

The lunar crater Hanno is named after him.

Singer-songwriter Al Stewart has a song about Hanno on his album Sparks of Ancient Light.

Historiography

In the 16th century, Hanno's voyage became more interesting to European scholars, especially during a time when European exploration and navigation were growing strongly. Even back then, people debated just how far Hanno had traveled during his journey.