Pytheas

Timeline

1. c. -380–-330Massalia · GaulBorn or raised in Massalia, a Greek colony in the western Mediterranean renowned for seafaring trade; Pytheas received a Greek education and gained sailing experience there, preparing for his later voyage to Britain.
2. c. -330–-320Britain · BritainSetting out from Massalia, he sailed north along the coasts of Spain and Gaul, crossed the Bay of Biscay to reach Britain, recording its climate, products, and Celtic tribal customs; he is said to have sailed north to near the Shetland Islands and observed the tidal patterns of the North Sea.
3. c. -320–-310Massalia · GaulAfter returning, he wrote the Periplus, recording his voyage's route, the geography of Britain and northern Europe, the relation between moon phases and tides, and mentioning the legendary land of 'Thule'; the original work is lost, its contents surviving through quotations by later writers such as Strabo and Pliny.