From North American waters to the shores of the Aegean, Tim Severin has brought together adventure, history and maritime archaeology in expeditions of remarkable precision. Retracing the great epics of the Mississippi explorers, Brendan, Sindbad, Jason and Ulysses, this modern adventurer has brought millennia-old tales back to life and proved their feasibility through scientific rigor and unrivalled determination. These navigations are recounted in a series of books retracing 5 legendary expeditions.
Exporers of the Mississippi an American river odyssey
In 1967, Tim Severin embarked on the Mississippi for a river adventure to follow in the footsteps of legendary explorers. From Spanish conquistadors to 19th? century traders, he recreates these journeys in historic boats. An expedition that highlights the physical and geographical challenges faced by these adventurers: capricious currents, treacherous sandbanks and inhospitable forests lining the banks of the Mississippi. Severin depicts the disasters and adventures of emblematic but often misunderstood figures in American history, while revealing the opportunistic maneuvers of more obscure characters who exploited the river for their own ends.
The Brendan Voyage the origins of the New World
Inspired by the medieval tales of the Irish monk Brendan, Severin undertook a historical reconstruction. Convinced that the saint could have crossed the Atlantic long before Christopher Columbus, he built a currach, a traditional Irish boat. This 11-meter boat, made of ash wood and ox leather, respects ancestral techniques. With a determined crew, Severin left Ireland in May 1976, crossed the Hebrides, the Faroe Islands and Iceland, reaching Newfoundland in June 1977 after 4,500 nautical miles. The story identifies several biblical sites described in the hagiographies: "the Isle of Sheep" evokes the Faroe Islands, while "the mountains that threw stones" recall Icelandic volcanoes. This voyage confirms that such boats could survive ocean crossings. The boat, on display at the Craggaunowen Museum in Ireland, bears witness to this adventure, which captivated millions of readers.
The Sinbad Voyage the spice route
In 1980, Severin was inspired by the Arabian Nights and the legend of Sinbad to explore the medieval sea routes linking Arabia to China. With the support of the Sultanate of Oman, he builds the Sohar, a replica of a 9? century Arabian dhow. Measuring 26.5 meters, this boat is entirely hand-assembled without nails using traditional methods, and fitted with a cotton lateen sail. The Sohar left Sour in November 1980 with a crew of 25. Sailing by dead reckoning and the stars, Severin covers 6,000 miles in 8 months. The voyage takes in the Malabar coast, Sri Lanka, the Straits of Malacca and Singapore, before reaching Canton, China, in July 1981. This epic journey demonstrates the importance of these ships in the spice trade and cultural transmission between East and West.
The Jason Voyage the quest for the Golden Fleece
In 1984, Tim Severin revisited Apollonius of Rhodes' Argonautics, retracing the mythical voyage of Jason and the Argonauts. With Greek carpenter Vasilis Delimitros, he builds a 16.50-meter galley inspired by Bronze Age models. This replica, called Argo, is powered by 20 rowers and a square sail. Setting out from northern Greece, Severin sailed through the Dardanelles, the Sea of Marmara and the Bosphorus before reaching the Black Sea. The 1,500-mile journey takes him as far as Georgia, where he identifies places mentioned in legend. The hypothesis that the Golden Fleece symbolizes local gold-panning techniques in mountainous rivers is validated.
The Ulysses Voyage a voyage from Troy to Ithaca
With the Argo in 1985, Severin followed the mythical route of Ulysses described in Homer's Odyssey. Exploring the Greek islands and Mediterranean coasts, he identified the supposed places of Ulysses' passage: the land of the Lotophages, the "wandering rocks" of the sirens and Charybdis and Scylla. This voyage, which combines archaeology, literature and nautical exploration, confirms the influence of oral traditions on the founding stories of Antiquity. Combining experimental navigation and textual analysis, Severin demonstrates that Homeric tales are rooted in geographical and maritime realities.
Over the course of these 5 legendary expeditions, Tim Severin has established himself as a passer de mémoire, skilfully linking the past to the present through his knowledge of ancestral construction and navigation techniques, and his dedication to bringing mythical tales to life. His voyages prove that ancient stories, far from being purely imaginary, are often based on tangible, historical foundations.
Tim Severin died in 2020 at the age of 80. All archive photos of his travels can be viewed on his dedicated website:
