Pytheas of Massalia

Hello! My name is Pytheas. I was born in a busy Greek city called Massalia more than 2,000 years ago, around the 4th century BCE. My home was right next to the big, sparkling Mediterranean Sea. I loved watching the ships sail in and out, and at night, I would look up at the stars and wonder what lay beyond the horizon. I was very curious and wanted to see the world for myself.

When I grew up, around the year 325 BCE, I decided to go on a grand adventure. I sailed my ship out of the warm Mediterranean and into the huge Atlantic Ocean. The waves were much bigger. I sailed north and became the first person from my home to visit a giant island that I called the Prettanic Isles, which you now call Great Britain. The people there were friendly, and I learned all about how they farmed the land and mined for tin.

But my journey wasn't over. I kept sailing north for six more days until I reached a mysterious, cold land I named Thule. It might have been what you call Iceland or Norway. The most amazing thing happened there—the sun never set. It stayed light all day and all night. I also saw something that looked like a 'frozen sea,' which was probably thick sea ice. No one from my home had ever seen such incredible things before.

On my travels, I figured out something very important: the Moon pulls the ocean, making the tides go in and out. When I returned home, I wrote a book about everything I saw. Some people didn't believe my stories about the midnight sun and frozen seas, but I knew they were true. I lived a full life exploring and learning, and I am remembered for showing the world that it was much bigger, colder, and more wonderful than anyone had ever imagined.