Customer Reviews

Beyond the Edge of the Sea: Sailing with Jason and the Argonauts, Ulysses, the Vikings, and Other Explorers of the Ancient World (Modern Library Paperbacks)

5 star:		(2)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

The author takes ancient texts, religions, and stories and turns them into factual accounts of the sea-faring adventures of Greeks, Polynesians, Muslims, and Norsemen. Among the four groups, most of the world was explored in ancient times. The observations are based on the author's real-life experiences of retracing these routes, often by sea and otherwise by air. The book succinctly captures enormous amounts of perspective in just a few pages and with many stunning illustrations. I have read no book that is its equal for making the ancient world real to us today.

"At sea there are no atheists . . . ." Ambassador Obregon, who is now deceased, looks at religious beliefs for clues about the voyages. Ancient peoples often calculated their locations by where they were compared to the constellations overhead. They saw the gods in these constellations, which made them doubly meaningful.

He goes on to show the prevailing winds in the major parts of the world. Since much travel was by sail, these winds had a heavy influence on what routes were chosen.

From there, he draws on whatever available evidence there is to answer questions like:

How did the Argonauts get home?

Where did Homer write the Odyssey?

Are the 'Indians' of South America descendants of the Polynesians?

Although the answers can be considered to be no more than hypotheses, they represent ideas that certainly help rule out some of the alternative explanations. If you are like me, it greatly adds to your appreciation of these ancient stories and peoples to see where they may have gone on a map, and to learn what the practical problems were that they probably encountered on these trips. I would otherwise not have realized that the Danube could be traversed by heavy boat with minimal portages.

The hypothesis about the Polynesians is especially interesting. Since they were relying on sail for much of their travel, he suggests that they may have waited for winds to blow that countered the usual direction of the trades. This meant reducing the risk of going into an ocean of unknown length, because when the trade winds did return they would push one safely home.

His perspective on all of this in the epilogue is quite interesting. "Between [the Greeks and the Polynesians] . . ., they explored more than half [the earth's'] circumference, yet they never met." "The Muslims . . . never ventured into the [Atlantic or Pacific]." But these travels were important, because they laid the foundation for the rediscovery of ancient knowledge that became the Renaissance.

The book is filled with little tidbits that would make a whole book for any other author. I particularly loved his explanation of how Eratosthenes of Syene (today's Aswan) came close to correctly calculating the earth's circumference in ancient times by measuring the length of a shadow in Alexandria to calculate its angle as compared to no shadow in Syene on the same day. How many of today's trigonometry or geometry students would conceive of this clever method?

I also encourage you to read this book for the purpose of thinking about how multidisciplinary perspectives can advance knowledge in ways that a narrower focus cannot. I would love to see this kind of thinking applied to many other issues about ancient times, such as how the pyramids were built.

I encourage you to do your own amateur sleuthing. Take something that seems unusual. What set of facts could explain it? In that way, you will strengthen your deductive powers.

Look closely, think hard, and fit the pieces together carefully . . . like reconstructing a broken pottery artifact!

I was intrigued enough by the subtitle of this book to purchase it and give it a read. Long ago I thoroughly enjoyed Thor Heyerdahl's books, and having just finished "The Nautical Chart" by Perez-Reverte, I was looking forward to an interesting read. But I found this book only a short snack, and not a satisfying meal.

What do I wish had been included? More details of the author's own adventures, and how they influenced his thinking and speculation on the modern day locations of ancient sites visited by seafarers. Fewer details from the stories of Jason and the Argonauts and Odysseus, and more details on the Muslims and their explorations.

I was also not convinced that the mythologies surrounding Jason and Odysseus might have been derived from actual voyages to actual locations. A more scholarly approach, with less speculation, would have carried me further.

In all, the book was too short to accomplish what could have been a very good tale.

We are preparing the Mediterranean expedition for the Vessel Heraclitus, on the seas for over 30 years. Obregon's book is a revelation to the expedition leaders, our captain of 15 years, and other colleagues investigating maritime history. We know from experience that his fresh ideas on history are based on experience. Obregon is no armchair historian; with daring and persistence, he has personally sailed the routes of Greeks, Vikings and others; he has also doggedly hunted down relevant archeological finds. The new twist he gives on classical texts is a delight, as well as comparative analysis of major seafaring traditions. Obregon spins compelling, poetic literature. A true classic, a must for anyone interested in maritime history, classics, and exploration.

Have you ever wondered where exactly Ulysses actually sailed in the real world, when he met and conquered the Cyclops, multi-headed dragon, and the giant whirlpool? How about where Jason and his Argonauts went to find the Golden Fleece? And how far across their respective oceans did the Polynesians and Vikings really get?

All these answers can be found in the small and compact book by Mauricio Obregón, Beyond the Edge of the Sea. This book is laid out in eight succinct chapters, framed with an informative prologue and an illustrative epilogue. It provides pools of information and details to those who are already familiar with tests of Homer's Odyssey and Apollonius' Jason and the Argonauts, as well as other important texts of the ancient world.

For those of you who have never read this renowned text, but are familiar with some of the happenings, do not fret. Obregón does not fail in providing the uninformed reader with background and setting, so that he or she may receive the full potential of the facts that the author is imparting.

This book is filled with wonderful diagrams, pictures and chars that really aid in what is being read. Every other page has a depiction of some sort, albeit a half-page or full page in size; lending further continuity to the book.

This book is recommended for all. For those who have read the classics, it provides an excellent reference. For those who are not so versed, this book may well serve as the impetus to make the reader tackle these fabulous pieces of literature.

Originally published on October 29th 2001.

Originally published in the Long Beach Union.

For over 500 book reviews and exclusive author interviews, go to [...]

I was rather disappointed by this book. I bought it in Atlanta's airport because it seemed short and substantive, while entertaining. Perfect companion for a long trip, apparently. Well, its 120 pages with pictures seemed actually rather too long. I thought that Mr. Obregon was really going to take us in some of the motivations for seafaring and exploration over the ages, mystical or not. Instead, it was mostly a rather odd account of his work and his thoughts on the mythic Greek travels. Yes, I did learn a few interesting things, but most of the perspectives offered are already well known. What bothered me more is that I was also able to catch a few glaring geographical mistakes which made me wonder about the editor. But perhaps the answer came from what I read on the back cover: Mr. Obregon died in 1998 and the copyright is in 2001.

At any rate, I will not discourage people from getting it, it is cheap and still entertaining for a long flight. And you will be unburdened on your return flight as you can give the book to your hosts as a thank you present.