Nile shipwreck discovery proves Herodotus right – after 2,469 years

Greek historian ’s description of ‘baris’ vessel vindicated by archaeologists at sunken city of Thonis-HeraclionIn the fifth century BC, the Greek historian Herodotus visited Egypt and wrote of unusual river boats on the Nile. Twenty-three lines of hisHistoria, the ancient world ’s first great narrative history, are devoted to the intricate description of the construction of a “baris”.For centuries, scholars have argued over his account because there was no archaeological evidence that such ships ever existed. Now there is. A “fabulously preserved” wreck in the waters around thesunken port city of Thonis-Heracleion has revealed just how accurate the historian was.Continue reading...
Source: Guardian Unlimited Science - Category: Science Authors: Tags: Archaeology UK news Science Egypt Source Type: news