alternatehistory.com
236 BC. The expedition of Argiros
236/235 BC
The expedition of Argiros
A new massive expedition of forty Venemeres* and several smaller ships with a total of nine thousands crew and settlers with the support of both companies and Federal council, set sail from Naucratia to explore and settle new trade hubs in modern day Portugal and the Atlantic coast of Africa.
The first stop of Argiros was in the land of a small Celtic tribe near modern day Porto were he establish a new trade hub colony Orestiko and exchange gifts with the local chief. From there he sailed to the independent/ex Carthage town of Tagus.The sheltered harbour in the Tagus River estuary was an ideal spot for an Iberian settlement and would have provided a secure harbour for unloading and provisioning Phoenician ships.The Tagus settlement was an important centre of commercial trade with the inland tribes, providing an outlet for the valuable metals, salt and salted-fish they collected, and for the sale of the Lusitanian horses renowned in antiquity. After a small battle and siege the city felt to Argiros forces. From there they passed through Barcid kingdom lands without a problem. Hamilcar Bacra, to secure good relations with Massaliot League, even open the harbor and market of Onoba to Argiros expedition.
Argiros sailed from Onoba to Lixus a semi independent/Carthage small colony. The people of Lixus pledge their alliance to Massaliot League and help Argiros fleet. From there he sailed to Thymiaterion/safi an old Greek colony, now with a mix Greek-Carthaginian Population of five hundred. A new Fortress builded in Safi before Argiros sail leaving six hundred people behind.
From there Argiros sailed even more south to the island of Arguin were he set up a new fort and a major trading colony of two thousands Neagathe, which acquired gum and slaves for Massaliot League. With a fleet of ten Venemeres and two thousands crew and settlers went even more south to delta of the Senegal river were he set up another new fort and colony Ypernoteia. After staying for some months in Ypernoteia he even sailed inland through the Senegal river with three small ships. There he made contact with a number of clans of proto-Soninke, the oldest branch of the Mandé (Manding) people.
This clans comprised a confederation of independent, freely allied, “states”. Located midway between the desert, the main source of salt, and the gold fields of the upper Senegal River to the south, the confederation had a good location to take advantage of trade with the surrounding cities. They traded with Massaliot League by Senegal river route leading to Ypernoteia. After the contact with the Soninke Argiros decided to finally to return home.
*Venemeres was a atlantic sea type of ship, a large "galley" that used two masts(fore-mast and main-mast), a deck and a stern-hung rudder. It was equally in size with a hexareme and was inspired by the Venetii tribe ships.The descriptions of the Venetii ships describe a very different style of vessel. Higher sides than the Roman types opposing it and relying upon sails exclusively. The water they plied was the channel and western France, rougher seas were to be expected. But also, since the area had a lot of shallows, a deep draft would be a detriment. This implies a wide beam (to stabilize for the masts and sails and carry a worthwhile load) and later vessels of the region had wide beams, so it is likely the Venetii ships did also.
stern-hung rudder: Duplidus a hellenised Gaul, mathematician and engineer, who studied in the past st the museum of Massalia under Archimedes, while he was working in the naval arsenal of Naucratia trying to find solutions for some contolling issues in the handling of the new bigger venemeres came up with the idea of a stern-hung rudder.
By place
Turkey
The expedition of Argiros
A new massive expedition of forty Venemeres* and several smaller ships with a total of nine thousands crew and settlers with the support of both companies and Federal council, set sail from Naucratia to explore and settle new trade hubs in modern day Portugal and the Atlantic coast of Africa.
The first stop of Argiros was in the land of a small Celtic tribe near modern day Porto were he establish a new trade hub colony Orestiko and exchange gifts with the local chief. From there he sailed to the independent/ex Carthage town of Tagus.The sheltered harbour in the Tagus River estuary was an ideal spot for an Iberian settlement and would have provided a secure harbour for unloading and provisioning Phoenician ships.The Tagus settlement was an important centre of commercial trade with the inland tribes, providing an outlet for the valuable metals, salt and salted-fish they collected, and for the sale of the Lusitanian horses renowned in antiquity. After a small battle and siege the city felt to Argiros forces. From there they passed through Barcid kingdom lands without a problem. Hamilcar Bacra, to secure good relations with Massaliot League, even open the harbor and market of Onoba to Argiros expedition.
Argiros sailed from Onoba to Lixus a semi independent/Carthage small colony. The people of Lixus pledge their alliance to Massaliot League and help Argiros fleet. From there he sailed to Thymiaterion/safi an old Greek colony, now with a mix Greek-Carthaginian Population of five hundred. A new Fortress builded in Safi before Argiros sail leaving six hundred people behind.
From there Argiros sailed even more south to the island of Arguin were he set up a new fort and a major trading colony of two thousands Neagathe, which acquired gum and slaves for Massaliot League. With a fleet of ten Venemeres and two thousands crew and settlers went even more south to delta of the Senegal river were he set up another new fort and colony Ypernoteia. After staying for some months in Ypernoteia he even sailed inland through the Senegal river with three small ships. There he made contact with a number of clans of proto-Soninke, the oldest branch of the Mandé (Manding) people.
This clans comprised a confederation of independent, freely allied, “states”. Located midway between the desert, the main source of salt, and the gold fields of the upper Senegal River to the south, the confederation had a good location to take advantage of trade with the surrounding cities. They traded with Massaliot League by Senegal river route leading to Ypernoteia. After the contact with the Soninke Argiros decided to finally to return home.
*Venemeres was a atlantic sea type of ship, a large "galley" that used two masts(fore-mast and main-mast), a deck and a stern-hung rudder. It was equally in size with a hexareme and was inspired by the Venetii tribe ships.The descriptions of the Venetii ships describe a very different style of vessel. Higher sides than the Roman types opposing it and relying upon sails exclusively. The water they plied was the channel and western France, rougher seas were to be expected. But also, since the area had a lot of shallows, a deep draft would be a detriment. This implies a wide beam (to stabilize for the masts and sails and carry a worthwhile load) and later vessels of the region had wide beams, so it is likely the Venetii ships did also.
stern-hung rudder: Duplidus a hellenised Gaul, mathematician and engineer, who studied in the past st the museum of Massalia under Archimedes, while he was working in the naval arsenal of Naucratia trying to find solutions for some contolling issues in the handling of the new bigger venemeres came up with the idea of a stern-hung rudder.
By place
Turkey
- Antiochus Hierax inflicts a crushing defeat on his Father army at Ancyra in Anatolia. Antiochus II leaves modern day Turkey to his son.Thus the kingdom of Hierax is now established.
- Eratosthenes is appointed by King Ptolemy III Euergetes as head and third librarian of the Alexandrian library.
- Sersor
- Word Count: 720