NavList:
A Community Devoted to the Preservation and Practice of Celestial Navigation and Other Methods of Traditional Wayfinding
From: John Cole
Date: 2012 Mar 15, 13:38 -0700
Can any of our historian navigators help identify the reef called "The Ant" (Myrmhka) mentioned by Herodotus in the Persian Wars Book 7, 179-183? "Three of the ten foreign (Persian) ships ran foul of the reef called the Ant, between Sciathus and Magnesia. The foreigners then brought a pillar of stone and set it on the reef... Pammon of Scyros it was who showed them where the reef lay, in the strait itself."
Sailing Directions Pub 132, 16.1 page 195 identifies the strait with modern Dhiavlos Skiathou 39 10N, 23 22E between the SE coast of modern Khersonisos Magnisias and the W coast of Nisos Skiathos. In the strait a "rocky shoal" is identified, Ifalos Levkari (Ifalos Levtheris). "It is marked by a lighted beacon and should be given a wide berth." The SD don't give the position and I don't have a chart but looking at the Barrington Atlas it should be about 39 09N, 23 21E.
Can I conclude that this is the place where Xerxes' navy likely went aground?
John Cole
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