Hippalus facts for kids
Hippalus was a Greek sailor and merchant. He lived around the 1st century BCE. This means he lived more than 2,000 years ago. Some people think he might have been a captain for another Greek explorer named Eudoxus of Cyzicus.
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Hippalus and His Big Discovery
An ancient book called the Periplus of the Erythraean Sea says Hippalus found a new, direct way to sail from the Red Sea to Tamilakam (part of India). He did this by understanding the sea and mapping out important trade ports along the Indian coast.
Before Hippalus, Greek mapmakers thought India's coast went from west to east. But Hippalus was likely the first Westerner to realize India's west coast actually runs north to south. This new understanding helped him see that sailing straight across the Indian Ocean could be much faster than following the coastline.
The Monsoon Winds
Another ancient writer, Pliny the Elder, said Hippalus didn't discover the route. Instead, he claimed Hippalus discovered the special wind called the monsoon. This wind was even named "Hippalus" after him for a while.
Most historians agree that knowing about the monsoon winds was super important for using the direct sea route. These winds blow in different directions at different times of the year. Sailors could use them to travel quickly across the ocean.
However, some historians say the wind was known before Hippalus. Its name might have just sounded similar to his. Sailors from Southern Arabia and India had already used these winds to cross the Indian Ocean for a long time.
Why This Discovery Mattered
Hippalus' direct route was a huge deal for trade. It made it much easier for the Roman Empire to trade with India. This trade grew a lot from the 1st century BCE onwards.
Large ships sailed from Roman ports like Berenice on the Red Sea. They crossed the Indian Ocean to reach the kingdoms of the Tamil people in India. These kingdoms included the Pandyas, Cholas, and Cheras. Today, these areas are part of Kerala and Tamil Nadu.
Hippalus' Legacy
Hippalus is still remembered today. There is a crater on the Moon named after him. He also appears as a character in some books. For example, he is in L. Sprague de Camp's novel The Golden Wind and the Tamil novel Veera Yuga Nayagan Vel Paari.
See also
In Spanish: Hípalo para niños
