|
Dave's Mythical Creatures and Places |
Zeno Brothers
In 1558, a book was published in Venice that claimed to tell the story of the Zeno Brothers, Nicholas and Antonio. The author of the work, a relative of the Zonos, also helped create the Ptolemaical map that showed the islands of Frisland, Estotiland, Icaria, and Drogeo. This map was later incorporated into maps by Mercator and Ortelius, which lent the legends credibility. The story of the Zenos is as follows:
Nicholas Zeno sailed towards England in 1390, but was blown off course, crashed, and was rescued by the Ruler of Frisland, Zichmni. (Zichmni is generally believed to be Henry Sinclair, Earl of Orkney.) Zichmni made Zeno the Admiral of his fleet, and together they conquered the Shetlands. Nicholas then began to explore the northern ocean, and in the north he found Engroneland (Greenland.) Nicholas died in 1396, and his brother Antonio took his position as Admiral.
Antonio reported in a letter that an old fisherman had told him a story about being blown out 1000 miles into the Atlantic to Estotiland, where he stayed for 5 years before traveling south to Drogeo, which was inhabited by cannibals. Antonio and Zichmni set sail to find these lands, but found Icaria instead. They did not stay in Icaria, but sailed southwest for 10 days before they found land. Zichmni stayed there with several men, but the rest returned with Antonio.
The debate still rages about the authenticity of the Zeno tale. Some believe that Antonio Zeno and Zichmni were the first Europeans to find America. Others believe that the whole tale was a complete fabrication based on existing information from existing maps, in order to claim "discovery" of the new lands.
