Description
By Hanno. Translated by Wilfred H. Schoff, A.M. Embark upon one of the oldest known voyages of exploration in human history in this remarkable account of ancient maritime adventure along the mysterious coast of West Africa.
The Periplus of Hanno: A Voyage of Discovery down the West African Coast, by a Carthaginian Admiral of the Fifth Century BC preserves the legendary account of Hanno the Navigator, the Carthaginian admiral whose daring expedition beyond the Pillars of Hercules carried him into regions of Africa largely unknown to the ancient Mediterranean world. Written more than two thousand years ago, the Periplus remains one of the most fascinating surviving documents of ancient exploration and navigation.
The narrative recounts Hanno’s voyage as he sailed southward along the Atlantic coast of Africa, establishing settlements, encountering unfamiliar peoples, navigating dangerous waters, and describing strange landscapes, volcanic mountains, exotic wildlife, and mysterious phenomena. Among the most famous passages are the descriptions of fiery mountains—possibly volcanic eruptions—and the enigmatic “gorillae,” creatures whose identity has intrigued scholars for centuries.
This classic translation by Wilfred H. Schoff presents the ancient text with scholarly insight and historical commentary, helping modern readers understand both the historical context of Carthaginian exploration and the enduring mysteries surrounding Hanno’s voyage. Schoff’s work places the Periplus within the broader history of ancient trade, navigation, and geographical discovery.
More than a travel account, The Periplus of Hanno is a rare surviving voice from the maritime world of ancient Carthage, offering invaluable insight into one of antiquity’s great seafaring civilizations. The text continues to fascinate historians, classicists, archaeologists, and readers interested in the history of exploration.
This carefully restored reprint revives a timeless classic of ancient travel literature for modern audiences. Essential for lovers of ancient history, maritime exploration, African history, and classical civilization, it remains one of the world’s earliest and most captivating exploration narratives.
About the author: Hanno the Navigator was a Carthaginian admiral and explorer traditionally believed to have led a major maritime expedition along the west coast of Africa during the fifth century BC.
About the translator: Wilfred H. Schoff (1874–1932) was an American historian, translator, and scholar specializing in ancient trade routes, exploration, and classical geography. He translated and annotated several important ancient travel texts, helping introduce modern readers to the maritime and commercial history of the ancient world.
Contents:
The Voyage of Hanno
King of the Carthaginians
The Geography of the Voyage of Hanno
Editions of The Periplus of Hanno
Carthaginian Chronology
The “Burning Country”
Carthage and the Carthaginians
Phœnicians and Carthaginians
The Dominion of Carthage
The Negritos
Pygmies
Carthaginian Trading
