Hanno the Navigator

Lore & Background

Hanno the Navigator (Punic: Ḥnʾ; Greek: Annōn) was a Carthaginian explorer, sometimes identified as a king, who lived during the fifth century BC. The consensus of scholarship places him as a member of the aristocratic Magonid family, and R.C.C. Law identifies him as the son of Hamilcar I. Ancient texts refer to him as a king, dux (leader), or imperator (commander), while the Greek translation of his periplus names him a basileus, a term that could mean 'king' or refer to high-level Carthaginian officials.

His account, the Periplus, is one of the few extant accounts of ancient exploration written by the explorer himself. The original Punic version is lost; only Greek-language manuscripts survive, first translated in the fifth century and abridged to 101 lines. Two copies remain, dating to the 9th and 14th centuries. Conrad Gessner produced the first Latin translation in 1559. Despite contradictions and errors, the periplus has survived as 'the nearest we have to a specimen of Carthaginian literature'.

According to the periplus, Hanno sailed with 60 ships and 30,000 people to found cities along the African coast. He founded several colonies, encountered the Lixitae tribe, and sailed further south, reaching an 'immense opening of the sea' and islands with hostile, hirsute people called Gorillai. Three were killed and their skins brought to Carthage. The expedition ended abruptly due to lack of provisions, without describing the return journey.

Reader's Guide

Hanno the Navigator's significance lies in his periplus, which provides a rare firsthand account of ancient exploration along the West African coast. The expedition, likely motivated by the gold trade, aimed to explore and colonize the northwestern coast of Africa. Historians have attempted to identify specific locations along his route, with estimates ranging from southern Morocco to as far south as Gabon. Some scholars argue he reached Senegal or Gambia, while others, like Raymond Mauny, contend he could not have sailed much farther than the mouth of the river Drâa due to navigational challenges. The vagueness of the periplus has led to wide disagreement: estimates for the voyage's distance range from under 1,100 km to at least 4,800 km. The account also introduced the term 'Gorillai', later used to name the gorilla species in 1847, though the authors did not affirmatively identify Hanno's Gorillai as gorillas. The periplus's survival, despite textual criticism and possible editing to protect Carthaginian trade routes, makes it a key source for understanding Carthaginian exploration and the limits of ancient navigation.

Did You Know?

• The original Punic version of Hanno's periplus is lost; only Greek-language manuscripts survive, first translated in the fifth century.
• The skins of three Gorillai were kept in the Temple of Juno (Tanit or Astarte) in Carthage and, according to Pliny the Elder, survived until the Roman destruction of Carthage in 146 BC.
• Some scholars argue Hanno could not have sailed much farther than coastal southern Morocco, while others suggest he reached as far as Gabon.
• The term 'Gorillai' from Hanno's account was used in 1847 to name the gorilla species, though the authors did not affirmatively identify Hanno's Gorillai as gorillas.