Project Overview - The project aimed to demonstrate that Phoenicians could have reached America 2,000 years before Columbus by sailing a 600 BC Phoenician ship replica across the Atlantic [6] - The ship, named Phoenicia, was a 20-meter-long and 6-meter-wide replica built using ancient techniques in Arwad, Syria [7][8] Voyage Details - The journey commenced in September 2019 from Carthage, Tunisia, passing through Gibraltar (pillars of Malcart), Kadis (Spain), Morocco, and the Canary Islands [9] - It took 39 days to cross the Atlantic Ocean from the Canary Islands to Santa Domingo in the Dominican Republic, then up to Miami, Florida, utilizing winds and sea currents [10] Crew and Conditions - The crew consisted of 12 people (10 men and 2 women) organized into three teams of four, with duties including helming, cooking, cleaning, lookout, and pumping water [12][13] - The crew faced challenging conditions, including seasickness, limited supplies, and storms, sleeping in an open space below deck [8][14][15] Cultural and Historical Significance - The Phoenicians were skilled sailors and traders who connected different cultures and continents without exploitation [3][4][5] - The project highlights the Phoenicians' spirit of exploration and their contributions to trade, navigation, and cultural exchange [4][5] Lessons and Reflections - The journey emphasized resilience, endurance, overcoming fears, and the importance of building connections [21] - The project suggests that the Lebanese people share a connection with their Phoenician heritage, characterized by a spirit of adventure and pioneering [20][22]

Phoenician Exploration & Navigation - The project aimed to prove Phoenicians could have reached America 2000 years before Columbus [6] - The Phoenicians were skilled sailors, navigating by the Northern Star and circumnavigating Africa [4] - The replica ship, Phoenicia, was 20 meters long and 6 meters wide, built using ancient techniques [8] - The journey started from Carthage (Tunisia), passed through Gibraltar (Kadis), Morocco (Isawira), Canary Islands (Tenedife), Dominican Republic (Santa Domingo), and ended in Miami, Florida [9][10] - Crossing the Atlantic took 39 days, relying on trade winds and sea currents [10] Crew & Shipboard Life - The crew consisted of 12 people (10 men and 2 women) [12] - The crew was divided into three teams of four, with rotating duties including helming, cooking, cleaning, lookout, and pumping water [13] - Sleeping arrangements were basic, with hammocks or thin mattresses below deck [14] - Limited fresh water supplies meant using seawater for cooking, showering, and washing clothes [16] Cultural & Historical Significance - The Phoenicians were the indigenous people of the Levant, based in Lebanon and neighboring countries [2][3] - They invented the alphabet, traded purple dye, invented blown glass, and were skilled shipbuilders [3] - The Phoenicians focused on trade, exchange, and building connections rather than exploitation [5][20] - The Lebanese diaspora showed strong connection to their heritage upon seeing the ship [18][19]