OVER THE WATER AND ACROSS THE DESERT– TRANS-SAHARAN CONTACTS OF THE MEDITERRANEAN WORLD IN THE 6TH AND 5TH CENTURY BC

Throughoutmythicalandhistoricaltimes,Africa,orLibyaastheGreekssaid,provedtobeatrustycompanionoftheancientMediterraneanworld.WhenOdysseusroundedthePeloponnese,hefirstcameupontheNorthAfricancoast;afterstealingtheGoldenFleece,JasonandhismenaresaidtohavecrossedtheoceanandthenthecontinentwiththeArgoontheirshoulders.1Pirates,mercenariesandmerchantshadpliedtheroutetoEgyptfromtimeimmemorial;seafarersfromthelateArchaicepochonwardsreachedAfrica’swesterncoaststhroughtheStraitofGibraltarandtheEastcoastfromtheRedSea;inthefollowingcenturies,contactswereestablishedasfarinlandasNubiaandthekingdomofMeroe.