Ron
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 posted
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7/31/2007
From the words of the esteemed Gibbon;
http://etext.library.adelaide.edu.au/g/gibbon/edward/g43d/chapter55.html
"The ancestors of these Dalmatian kings were equally removed from the use and abuse of navigation: they dwelt in the White Croatia, in the inland regions of Silesia and Little Poland, thirty days’ journey, according to the Greek computation, from the sea of darkness."
Thus, for what ever reason, Gibbon, it appears, refers to the Adriatic Sea as "the sea of darkness", but he does not capitalize Sea or Darkness! So, we cannot be sure if he meant anything when using this term?
Well of course he meant something! Hadria or Adria or Adrian, etc., means "dark!" Just how did this sea receive this moniker? I have sailed it and I never saw anything that could describe it as a "dark sea?"
Could it be, that at one time, the sea was considered dark because it was dangerous to sail in it? Yes, of course! Pirates in this area are known for years and years in our currently accepted version of history. Even the Venetians were considered "pirates" at one time or another! But, in general, sailing down or up the Adriatic Sea, one is only a few nautical miles to the east or west in view of the coast line of Italy of of the area called Dalmatia, in the past! In other words, the crossing of this sea, even by sailboat, can be acheived in a rather short time at the narrowist points in but a few hours!
So, maybe we can assume that those sailors wishing to cross this sea and avoid the piratical bands that menaced them, made their crossings at "Night", or in the "darkness?"
Thus, "the dark sea!"
Or, maybe there are other reasons? Can any of you think of any?
Regards,
Ron
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