The Birth of the Monsoon Winds: On the Existence and Understanding of Hippalus, and the ‘Discovery’ of the Apogeous Trade Winds
AbstractA review is presented of the surviving primary evidence of Hippalus as the discoverer of the trade route that allowed sailing vessels to run before the wind from the mouth of the Arabian Sea to the southern ports of India during the summer, and return with the winter monsoon during the 1st century ce. His stature as a skilful navigator is associated with the riches this discovery brought to Rome and the western world at the time, but questions are raised about the prestige he has been accorded in the modern historiography. Specifically, questions are posed about the explorer’s absence from texts in which he might be expected to appear, and his fumbled inclusion in those texts that do give him mention. The conclusion is that there is scant record of Hippalus’ actual existence, and the foundation of his continued recognition as a great discoverer is therefore questionable. However, despite the patchy historical record of the man, the surviving myth has real value in interpreting and understanding th...