somebody named christopher columbus , or cristoforo colombo -lrb- the italian version -rrb- or cristobal colon -lrb- the spanish spelling -rrb- , did sail from a tiny port in southern spain on aug. 3 , 1492 , cross the atlantic , land somewhere in the bahamas , then return to spread the word that a new world awaited those who embraced god , glory and gold . ;