Phoenicia proves the skeptics wrong by circumnavigating Africa

by Lee Mylchreest on 20 Oct 2010 On the morning of Friday 15th October Phoenicia sailed in to Port Beirut, Lebanon at the end of their magnificent circumnavigation of Africa. After 20,000 miles and two years at sea, the arrival sees the triumphant completion of their voyage in the replica 600 BC ship.

The successful completion of the voyage is of enormous significance to historians and archaeologists as it proves that the Phoenician vessels were capable of sailing around the African continent - something that has been the cause of much speculation over centuries.

They have been warmly received in Lebanon by the coordinators of www.phoenicia.org.uk - a website dedicated to furthering knowledge about Phoenician history and culture.

A ceremony then took place to mark the 2,600 year anniversary of the Phoenicians original circumnavigation. The replica Phoenician ship, captained by British explorer Philip Beale, has completed the a voyage made by Phoenicians in 600 BC. With up to 16 crew members on any one leg the replica vessel has welcomed sailors from all corners of the globe.

The voyage has presented Captain Beale and his international crew with many challenges including losing one of the ship’s rudders in the Red Sea, the threat of piracy off the Somali coast and gale force weather conditions around the Cape of Good Hope. The ship has visited 14 countries - each time sparking interest in the achievements of ancient Phoenician mariners.

But the ship hasn't reached 'home' yet. Following the ceremony in Beirut and celebrations that finish on 20th October (today) Phoenicia will sail north to Arwad, Syria where the ship was built using traditional Phoenician construction methods and materials in 2007 and launched in 2008. Later it is intended that the ship will return to the UK, where it will be housed in a museum

For more information on Phoenicia including a live satellite tracking device visit www.phoenicia.org.uk.