Phoenicians Before Columbus Expedition

Following the success of its African circumnavigation, the Phoenicia embarked on another groundbreaking expedition to explore the possibility that Phoenician sailors could have crossed the Atlantic Ocean over 2,000 years before Christopher Columbus. This ambitious journey, known as the Phoenicians Before Columbus Expedition, aimed to demonstrate that vessels like the Phoenicia could have made the voyages to the Americas in ancient times.

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The expedition began on September 28, 2019, when the Phoenicia set sail from Carthage. It made stops at key ports along its route, including in Algeria, Gibraltar, Cadiz, Essaouira (Morocco), and Tenerife in the Canary Islands, before embarking on the historic Atlantic crossing. On December 31, 2019, the Phoenicia reached Santo Domingo in the Dominican Republic, successfully completing the transatlantic leg of the voyage.

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The journey continued to the United States, with the Phoenicia arriving at Fort Lauderdale, Florida, on February 4, 2020. The crew was warmly welcomed by the Coral Ridge Yacht Club, marking the end of another remarkable chapter in the vessel's history. The expedition highlighted the seafaring capabilities of the Phoenicians and their potential to have reached the Americas long before European explorers.

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"It is one of the greatest voyages of mankind and if anyone could have done it before Columbus, it was the Phoenicians.  Of all the ancient civilisations, they were the greatest seafarers - Lebanon had cedar trees perfect for building strong boats, they were the first to use iron nails and they had knowledge of astrology and currents."

Philip Beale, Expedition Leader