There is a claim in Herodotus (4.42) that the Egyptian King Necho commissioned some Phoenicians to sail around Africa, and that they succeeded in doing so.
When I first heard about this I thought it was kinda ludicrous, but I guess I don't really know how plausible it would be for a ship designed for Mediterranean conditions to survive hugging the coast, find whatever supplies were required and survive contact with the locals. It just seems unlikely given how difficult it often was for modern explorers. Still I wonder if I'm unfairly discounting the capabilities of ancient sailors.
Is there any prevailing opinion on whether such a voyage is likely to have occurred?
Also in the same passage it talks about an early canal in Egypt between the Nile and the Arabian Gulf. Is it known if there is any truth to that claim? Would be a prerequisite for a complete circumnavigation I suppose.
hi, there's room for more discussion on your specific points, but you may be interested in a few previous comments
Did Phoenicians circumnavigate Africa in the 6th/7th century BCE? - /u/khosikulu says it's unlikely
Phoenician trade routes around Africa? - /u/khosikulu and /u/Aerandir
Hanno The Navigator - /u/khosikulu adds more on Hanno
Is it true that the Phoenicians founded colonies on the West African coast, and if so how successful were they? - /u/sisulusghost weighs in on settlements
I heard recently that Herodotus mentioned a story wherein Phoenician sailors circumnavigated Africa in antiquity. Do modern scholars believe this anecdote to be true? - /u/jamillian agrees, while /u/AbouBenAdhem allows for the possibility
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