Words of Hanno The Navigator - Ancient Explorer // 5th century BC // Primary Source @VoicesofthePast

Uploaded October 2019 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago

Here we have the words of Hanno the Navigator, famed Carthaginian explorer and one of the earliest accounts of West Africa that has survived to the present day.

Saved from the burning remains of Carthage by a Greek translation, the text itself allegedly hung on a temple wall along with the dried gorilla skins mentioned in his story for almost three hundred years, before Carthage was finally crushed entirely by Rome.

Head over to Archaia Istoria for analysis of the text!

youtube.com/watch?v=hdqJcOMzbMk&feature=youtu.be

As is often the case with texts of this age, many of the locations are a source of much debate amongst modern (and indeed ancient) historians, so do continue the debate in the comments.

This is a collaboration between more than twenty history youtubers as part of #projectafrica:

youtube.com/playlist?list=PLivC9TMdGnL_nFh7EtyLykEbzxCMH7nkB

Particular shout out to History with Cy:
youtu.be/lnoqlCV__z4

and Cogito...
youtu.be/1oQ5Jd7p2aY

And finally, of course, History Time, who has something very special...

How do we actually know about history? Voices of the Past is a channel dedicated to recreating the original accounts from the people who lived through events, or who lived far closer to them than we do today. We do this word for word, with an accompanying soundtrack of rousing music and images.

— Thanks for watching! Don’t forget to subscribe for new videos every single week! & Let us know in the comments what you’d like to see covered in the future.

— Don’t forget to subscribe to our other channel History Time, where we make full length historical documentaries:-
youtube.com/historytime

— Music courtesy of:-
- Epidemic Sound

— Voice actor & editor:-
David Kelly

We try to use copyright free images at all times. However if we have used any of your artwork or maps then please don't hesitate to contact me and we’ll be more than happy to give the appropriate credit.

Words of Hanno The Navigator - Ancient Explorer // 5th century BC // Primary Source

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