History: Pythias, sailor, explorer and… astronomer

History: Pythias, sailor, explorer and… astronomer

Pythias was the first Greek to approach the islands of northern Europe in the 4th century BC, and was also a great astronomer. Measuring latitude, the inclination of the Earth, observing the moon and the tides: his works are known to us in parts and parts.

“Liar! Confabulator!” Alone in his study before a pile of manuscripts, Strabo fumes. The great Greek geographer never read anything like this. The sea that freezes? The sun that never sets? The moon that rules the ocean? Inventions! Deception! None of the great authors wrote “And after more than three centuries have passed since his story, how can we still be stuck in it? So no one has read the historian Polybius? His comments on Massaliote?” And the other claims to have reached the utmost limits of the world. He explored the entire northern region of Europe, a claim one cannot even believe came from the mouth of Hermes. »

“Liar! Confabulator!” Alone in his study before a pile of manuscripts, Strabo fumes. The great Greek geographer never read anything like this. The sea that freezes? The sun that never sets? The moon that rules the ocean? Inventions! Deception! None of the great authors wrote “And when more than three centuries have passed since his story, how can we still be stuck with it? Then no one has read the historian Polybius? His comments on Massaliote?” world and explored the entire northern region of Europe, a claim that no one would believe even coming from the mouth of Hermes. »

David Fossey, published November 6, 2023, modified November 6, 2023

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