Why Couldn’t European Sailors Swim In The Past?
Conny Waters - AncientPages.com - In the Cave of the Swimmers at Wadi Sura in the Gilf Kebir, in the southwest corner of Egypt, not far from Libya and Sudan, there are 8,000-year-old cave paintings depicting humans swimming. These ancient rock art depictions are among the earliest known representations of swimming.
While the Bedouin nomads were familiar with these rock carvings for a long time, the Western world first became aware of their existence in 1933 when desert mapper and explorer Lászlo Almásy discovered them during his explorations. These ancient artworks provide valuable insights into prehistoric societies' cultural practices and artistic expressions.
According to historical records, the earliest humans taught themselves how to swim over 100,000 years ago, driven by the need to acquire food and for recreational purposes. Evidence suggests that Neanderthals living in Italy around 100,000 years ago were proficient swimmers. Their ear bones indicate that they suffered from swimmer's ear, likely due to diving 3-4 meters deep to retrieve clamshells, which they then shaped into tools. This remarkable ability to swim and dive demonstrates the ingenuity and adaptability of our ancient ancestors.
Therefore, it is a bit surprising to learn that well into the 19th century, European sailors' inability to swim was widespread. Those unfortunate individuals who fell overboard faced a grim fate, as they lacked the essential skill to stay afloat. Remarkably, even the renowned English naval officer James Cook, who spent much of his life navigating the world's oceans in the 1700s, could not swim. Cook's lack of swimming proficiency was not isolated; it was a common trait among European sailors until the 1800s. This historical fact highlights the stark contrast between the seafaring lifestyle and the absence of a fundamental survival skill.
The sports culture historian Richard Mandell provides an informative perspective on swimming abilities during the colonial period. According to his research, most Westerners at that time lacked swimming skills. If they acquired any swimming proficiency, it was limited to the basic dog paddle technique, primarily intended for emergencies where they needed to save themselves from drowning.
One significant reason European sailors could not swim was the belief that swimming was unhealthy. Many European doctors in the past advised against swimming, as they believed that water immersion would disrupt the balance of the body's humours, leading to the development of diseases like bubonic plague, cholera, and smallpox, which devastated Europe at the time. This belief stemmed from the prevailing medical theory of the time, which held that the body's health depended on maintaining a proper balance of four humors: blood, phlegm, yellow bile, and black bile. Immersing oneself in water was thought to upset this delicate equilibrium, potentially causing illness.
Illustration from De arte natandi - The art of swimming (1595). Credit: Public Domain
Many medieval Europeans believed that water could spread infections and potentially cause epidemics. British writer George Borrow also noted that swimming was deemed unsuitable for respectable individuals: "To swim one must be naked, and what would a noble person look like without his clothes?" This cultural perception contributed to European sailors' lack of swimming skills during that era.
Swimming was viewed skeptically, particularly in the British Royal Navy and other naval forces. It was believed that teaching sailors how to swim could potentially create cowards. The rationale behind this thinking was that during battles, sailors who knew how to swim might be tempted to jump overboard and abandon the ship rather than remain on board and fight. Consequently, navies preferred their crews to be unable to swim, as this was thought to encourage them to stay and defend the vessel instead of seeking safety in the water.
Some sailors were also afraid of the water and the real and imagined creatures of the seas.
Written by Conny Waters – AncientPages.com Staff Writer
Copyright © AncientPages.com All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed in whole or part without the express written permission of AncientPages.com
Expand for referencesKaren Eva Carr - Shifting Currents: A World History of Swimming
Nicholas Orme - Early British Swimming 55BC-AD1719
Kevin Dawson - "Swimming, Surfing, and Underwater Diving in the Early Modern Atlantic and the African Diaspora
More From Ancient Pages
-
Mysterious Ancient Tully Monster Is So Weird It Cannot Be Classified
Fossils | Feb 22, 2017 -
Petroglyphs At The Winnemucca Lake: North America’s Oldest Known
Featured Stories | Sep 10, 2018 -
On This Day In History: Admiral John Byng Charged With ‘Failing To Do His Utmost’ – Executed – On Mar 14, 1757
News | Mar 14, 2017 -
Rare Medieval Tattoo Depicting A Christogram Unearthed In Ghazali, Sudan
Archaeology | Nov 9, 2023 -
Mysterious Death Of Cambyses II – Natural, Suicide Or Assassination By Darius I The Great?
Featured Stories | Apr 21, 2021 -
Jurassic Sea Creature Unearthed In A Quarry Near Peterborough, UK
News | Dec 14, 2023 -
12,000-Year-Old Artifacts In Louisiana Saved By Scientists
Archaeology | Jul 18, 2023 -
Knaresborough Hoard Reveals Its Secrets – Unusual Roman Discovery In The British Isles
Archaeology | Jan 12, 2024 -
Unique Canterbury Roll – Ancient Manuscript Reveals Its Secrets About History Of England
Archaeology | Jan 5, 2018 -
Bandelier National Monument: Unusual Ancient Ruins Of Pueblo People In The Southwest
Civilizations | Jun 30, 2016 -
Scribes: One Of The Noblest And Highly Recommended Professions In Ancient Egypt
Featured Stories | May 10, 2023 -
Ancient Great City Of Ani: Lost Capital Of The Kingdom Of Armenia And Its Mysterious Underground Tunnels
Featured Stories | Feb 18, 2016 -
Ancient Magical Bowls Inscribed With Spells And Other Rare Artifacts Seized In Jerusalem Raid
Archaeology | Mar 14, 2022 -
Judas: A Famous Traitor Or A Hero?
Biblical Mysteries | Oct 16, 2017 -
Manuscripts And Art Support Evidence That Syphilis Was In Europe Long Before Explorers Could Have Brought It Home
Featured Stories | Jul 15, 2022 -
Ancient DNA Reveals: Iberian Males Were Almost Completely Replaced Between 4,500 And 4,000 Years Ago
Archaeology | Mar 15, 2019 -
Octopus Lures From The Mariana Islands Are The Oldest Known Artifacts Of Their Kind In The World.
Archaeology | Jul 29, 2022 -
Sumerians Built A Huge ‘Anti-Drought Machine’ To Save Ancient City Of Girsu From Destruction
Ancient Technology | Nov 23, 2023 -
Unique Structure ‘Wooden Version Of Stonehenge’ – Identified In The Perdigões Complex, Portugal
Archaeology | Aug 6, 2020 -
Mystery Of The Silver Hands Discovered In An Etruscan Tomb Full Of Secrets
Artifacts | Jun 12, 2015