Brasil (mythical island) facts for kids
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Native name:
Hy-Brasil, Hy Brasil, Hy Breasil, Hy Breasail, Hy Breasal, Hy Brazil, I-Brasil
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Brasil (far left) as shown in relation to Ireland on a map by Abraham Ortelius (1572)
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| Etymology | Uí Breasail: in honour of the descendants of Bresail |
| Geography | |
| Location | Mythical, Atlantic Ocean |
Imagine an island that appears only once every seven years, hidden by thick mist the rest of the time! That's the legend of Brasil, also known as Hy-Brasil. This mysterious, mythical island was said to exist far out in the Atlantic Ocean, west of Ireland. According to ancient Irish stories, even when it became visible, it was impossible to reach.
Contents
What's in a Name? The Story of Brasil
Over the centuries, people spelled the name 'Brasil' in many different ways. Historian Walter Scaife noted in 1890 that there were at least thirteen different spellings!
Where Did the Name 'Brasil' Come From?
The exact origin of the names 'Brasil' and 'Hy-Brasil' is a bit of a mystery. Some people think it might be linked to a special wood dye called 'brazil'. This dye was very popular in Europe during the 12th century. Sailors from places like Genoa, Italy, might have used the name 'Brasil' to mark places where they found this valuable dye.
It's interesting to know that the name of the country Brazil also comes from a similar dye, called brazilwood. While tropical brazilwood doesn't grow near Ireland, other trees in Europe can produce similar dyes. So, the name could still be connected to dyes.
In Irish tradition, the name 'Hy-Brasil' is thought to come from 'Uí Breasail'. This means 'descendants of Bresail' and refers to an old Irish family clan. Another idea is that it comes from old Irish words meaning 'island of beauty' or 'mighty island'.
Finding Brasil on Old Maps
This legendary island wasn't always shown in the same spot! On old maps, Brasil appeared in many different places. Sometimes it was near the North Pole, sometimes near the South Pole, and often close to the coast of Ireland.
One of the earliest appearances was around 1325 on a portolan chart (a type of old sea map) by Angelino Dulcert. It was called 'Bracile' and shown west of Ireland. It also appeared on the Rex Tholomeus chart around 1360 and the Catalan Atlas around 1375.
In 1436, the Venetian mapmaker Andrea Bianco showed 'Insula de Brasil' as part of a group of islands in the Atlantic. For a while, people thought this might be Terceira Island in the Azores, where a mountain is still called Monte Brasil.
Around 1480, another map showed two 'Illa de brasil' islands: one southwest of Ireland and another south of 'Illa verde' or Greenland.
In 1526, Roger Barlow translated a book by Martín Fernández de Enciso. It described Brasil like this:
West of Ireland is an island called the island of Brasil which stands in 51 degrees. It is almost round, it has 12 leagues in length and 9 in width. From Ireland to this island of Brasil is 70 leagues.
On many maps, Brasil was drawn as a round island, often with a river or strait running through its middle. Even though explorers couldn't find it, it kept appearing on maps southwest of Galway Bay until 1865. By then, it was sometimes called 'Brasil Rock'.
Some people have suggested that Brasil might have been based on real underwater features, like the Porcupine Bank, Yellow Ridge (Irish: Imaire Buidhe), or Rockall, which are shallow areas in the Atlantic.
Map gallery
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Catalan atlas from 1375
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Piri Reis' map of Europe and the Mediterranean Sea from 1513
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Map of Europe from 1570
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Gerardus Mercator's map from 1595
The Hunt for Hy-Brasil: Explorers and Sightings
People were so curious about Hy-Brasil that they launched expeditions to find it! In 1480 and 1481, ships sailed from Bristol, England, specifically looking for the island.
After John Cabot returned from his famous voyage in 1497, a letter mentioned that the land he found had been "discovered in the past by the men from Bristol who found Brasil." This shows how important the search for Brasil was at the time.
In 1674, a Captain John Nisbet claimed he saw the island while sailing from France to Ireland. He even said it was home to large black rabbits and a magician living in a stone castle! However, this exciting story was actually made up by an Irish writer named Richard Head.
Another interesting account comes from Roderick O'Flaherty in 1684. He wrote about a man named Morogh O'Ley who believed he had actually visited O'Brasil for two days. Morogh claimed he could see the Aran Islands and other familiar places from the mythical island.
Later, in 1862, a shallow area in the Atlantic called Porcupine Bank was discovered, about 200 kilometers (124 miles) west of Ireland. As early as 1870, some people wondered if this bank could be the real location behind the legend of Hy-Brasil. This idea has been discussed many times since then.
See also
- Avalon
- Etymology of the country Brazil's name:
- Brazil § Etymology
- Name of Brazil
- Irish mythology in popular culture
- Inisheer
- Tech Duinn, a mythological island to the west of Ireland where souls go after death.
- Great Ireland, a similarly west-of-Ireland place, Irish myths of which are believed to have influenced the Vikings.
- Rocabarraigh, a similar mythical island in Scottish Gaelic folklore.
- Fata Morgana, an atmospheric phenomenon that can create an illusion of a distant island where there is none
