Crossing the Atlantic on a 600 B.C. Phoenician Ship Replica | Sheimaa Oubari | TEDxLAU Women

Summary of Atlantic Crossing on a Phoenician Ship Replica

Key Concepts:

• Phoenicians/Canaanites: Indigenous people of the Levant, known for seafaring, trade, and the invention of the alphabet.
• Experimental Archaeology: Recreating historical conditions to test hypotheses about the past.
• Phoenicia Ship Replica: A 20-meter long vessel built using ancient techniques, modeled after a 600 BC Phoenician ship.
• Trade Winds: Consistent wind patterns used for sailing across the Atlantic.
• Pillars of Malcart: The ancient name for the Strait of Gibraltar.
• Lebanese Diaspora: Lebanese people living outside of Lebanon.

1. Introduction: The Atlantic Crossing Experience

The speaker recounts her experience crossing the Atlantic Ocean on a replica of a 600 BC Phoenician ship. She describes the challenging conditions, including seasickness and the realization of the immense task at hand. The journey was part of an experimental archaeology project to demonstrate the Phoenicians' potential to reach America long before Columbus.

2. The Phoenicians: Unsung Heroes of History

• Identity and Location: The Phoenicians, also known as Canaanites, were the indigenous people of the Levant (modern-day Lebanon and surrounding areas). They organized themselves into city-states like Jibel (Biblo), Beirut, Sida, and Sur (Tyre).
• Achievements: The Phoenicians made significant contributions, including:
  • Inventing the alphabet.
  • Trading purple dye, a highly valued pigment for royalty.
  • Inventing blown glass.
  • Master shipbuilders and sailors.
• Seafaring Prowess: They navigated the Mediterranean, reached the British Isles, and possibly circumnavigated Africa. They used the Northern Star for navigation.
• Philosophy: The speaker emphasizes the Phoenicians' spirit of exploration and connection, focusing on trade and cultural exchange rather than exploitation and conquest.

3. The Phoenicia Project: Proving Pre-Columbian Contact

• Project Goal: Led by Captain Philip Beiel, the project aimed to prove that the Phoenicians could have reached America 2,000 years before Columbus.
• Speaker's Involvement: The speaker contacted Captain Beiel in 2016, became involved in promoting the project, and eventually volunteered as crew.
• Ship Construction: The ship, named Phoenicia, was built in Arwad, Syria, using ancient techniques and based on a shipwreck found in the Mediterranean. It was 20 meters long, 6 meters wide, with a 15-meter mast and no keel.

4. The Journey: From Carthage to Miami

• Departure: The journey began in September 2019 from Carthage, Tunisia (founded by the Phoenicians around 800 BC).
• Mediterranean Route: The ship sailed through the Mediterranean, passing the Pillars of Malcart (Gibraltar) to Kadis (founded by the Phoenicians around 300 BC) in Spain, and then to Isawira in Morocco.
• Atlantic Crossing: From Tenerife in the Canary Islands, the ship used trade winds to cross the Atlantic in 39 days, reaching Santa Domingo in the Dominican Republic.
• Final Leg: The journey continued through the Bermuda Triangle to Miami, Florida, relying on winds and sea currents.
• Mediterranean vs. Atlantic: The Mediterranean was more challenging due to unpredictable winds and currents, while the Atlantic was vast and intimidating.

5. Life at Sea: Challenges and Camaraderie

• Crew: The crew consisted of 12 people (10 men, 2 women) plus a rat.
• Teamwork: The crew was divided into three teams of four, rotating duties such as helming, cooking, cleaning, lookout, and pumping water.
• Living Conditions: There were no cabins; crew members slept on hammocks or thin mattresses below deck.
• Food and Water: Food consisted mainly of carbs, supplemented by caught fish. Drinking water was limited, so seawater was used for cooking, showering, and washing clothes.
• Toilet: A box attached to a ramp on the side of the ship, described as "the worst toilet in the world with the best view in the world."
• Storm: The ship endured a three-day storm in the Caribbean, testing the ship's and crew's resilience.

6. Sailing by Night: Navigating the Milky Way

• Night Shifts: Each team had to take night shifts, which were initially unwelcome.
• Stargazing: The speaker describes the experience of navigating by the stars in the least light-polluted place on Earth, connecting the stars above to the ocean below.

7. Making Landfall: Welcoming and Connections

• Smell of Land: The speaker notes that the smell of land was noticeable before it was visible.
• Lebanese Flag: At every port, the speaker proudly raised the Lebanese flag.
• Reception: The ship received warm welcomes, especially from the Lebanese diaspora.
• Personal Connection: The speaker recounts an emotional encounter with a woman in Santo Domingo whose parents had emigrated from Lebanon in the 1920s.

8. Lessons Learned: The Phoenician Legacy

• Phoenician Values: The Phoenicians built networks and connected cultures rather than waging wars and conquering.
• Lebanese Heritage: The speaker emphasizes the importance of recognizing and embracing the Phoenician heritage as a living force.
• Resilience and Adventure: The journey taught the speaker about resilience, endurance, overcoming fears, and the importance of making friends.
• Lebanese Pioneers: The speaker connects the Phoenician spirit of exploration to the Lebanese diaspora, highlighting their success as pioneers in various fields.
• Quote: "The footsteps of a pioneer become ultimately the highway of a nation" - Amir Dehani.

9. Conclusion: A Life-Changing Experience

The speaker concludes by describing the sense of freedom found in nature and the value of taking risks. She emphasizes that she was just a "regular bay girl" who had an extraordinary opportunity and that the experience was worth it.

Key Quotes:

• "What the hell am I doing here?" - The speaker's initial thought in the middle of the Atlantic.
• "The hope of dying keeps you alive." - A humorous take on seasickness.
• "The worst toilet in the world with the best view in the world." - Description of the ship's toilet.
• "You don't navigate the Atlantic, you navigate the Milky Way." - Describing the experience of sailing by night.
• "The footsteps of a pioneer become ultimately the highway of a nation." - Amir Dehani, highlighting the impact of pioneers.

Synthesis/Conclusion:

The speaker's journey across the Atlantic on a Phoenician ship replica was a challenging but ultimately rewarding experience. It highlighted the remarkable achievements and values of the Phoenicians, emphasizing their focus on trade, exploration, and cultural connection. The journey also underscored the importance of resilience, adventure, and embracing one's heritage, connecting the ancient Phoenician spirit to the modern-day Lebanese diaspora. The project served as a testament to experimental archaeology, demonstrating the potential for pre-Columbian contact between the Old World and the Americas.