National Geographic: Lost Ships of the Mediterranean Page #5

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a Phoenician crew,

Phoenician origins for this cargo.

This wine decanter, with its fanciful

wide lip, is uniquely Phoenician.

It crowns the final act of a drama

that began nearly 3000 years ago.

They may well have set sail

from the great city of Tire,

two ships laden with fine wine

from the hinterland.

Their destination?

Perhaps the Egypt of the Pharaohs.

Or their wine-thirsty compatriots in

the newly founded colony of Carthage.

To bless their journey, they would

have performed age-old rituals,

invoking the gods and perfuming

the air to attract their favor.

For a time, they may have felt

protected by divine grace.

A gentle sea guided

the rhythm of their days.

Then suddenly it seemed

their gods abandoned them.

And no prayer,

no offering could win them back.

For those who waited on the home

shore, there was no end to this voyage.

No matter how hard they prayed,

the ships would never reappear

on their horizon.

The fate of their loved ones

would remain a mystery.

Yet centuries later,

two modern-day explorers have raised

their story from the depths,

and added a new chapter

to our understanding of the past.

As future expeditions are planned,

the promise of deep-sea archeology

seems brighter than ever.

For who knows how much history

lies hidden on the bottom,

just waiting to be discovered?

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