After 20,000 miles and two years at sea, Phoenicia has arrived at the ancient Phoenician port of Sidon in Lebanon
Nearing completion of a voyage to circumnavigate Africa the replica 600 BC ship has been warmly received in Lebanon by the coordinators of www.phoenicia.org.uk - a website dedicated to furthering knowledge about Phoenician history and culture.
In Lebanon the ship will stay for a few days in port Sidon before sailing north to the capital, Beirut, where a ceremony is planned to mark the 2,600 year anniversary of the Phoenicians original circumnavigation.
Mr George Faddoul from www.phoenicia.org.uk is coordinating the ship’s visit to Lebanon and the events in Beirut taking place between 15th-20th October.
The replica Phoenician ship, captained by British explorer Philip Beale, has completed the circumnavigation of Africa - 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.
At the end of the expedition the ship will have visited 14 countries - each time sparking interest in the achievements of ancient Phoenician mariners.
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.
Following the ceremony in Beirut 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.
For more information on Phoenicia including a live satellite tracking device visit www.phoenicia.org.uk.
Source: Gibraltar Chronicle [October 15, 2010]