Thule facts for kids
Thule is the name of a mysterious island that an ancient Greek explorer named Pytheas wrote about. He discovered it in the 4th century B.C.
Pytheas said this island was far to the north of Great Britain. Because of his description, people today think Thule might be Iceland. It could also be the Shetland Islands or the Faroe Islands. Some even believe it was the coast of Norway.
Today, there is a village in northern Greenland called Thule. It is also known as Qaanaaq.
Contents
What Was Thule?
Thule was an island mentioned by an ancient Greek explorer. His name was Pytheas. He explored the northern parts of Europe around 325 B.C. He wrote about his journey and the places he saw.
Pytheas described Thule as a land where the sun barely set in summer. He also said the sea was frozen or slushy. This made it sound like a very cold place.
The Explorer Pytheas
Pytheas was from a Greek city called Massalia. This city is now Marseille, France. He was a geographer and explorer. He was one of the first people to sail far north in Europe.
His writings about Thule were very important. They gave people in ancient times an idea of what the far north was like. Sadly, most of his original writings are lost. We only know about them from other ancient writers.
Where Could Thule Be?
Historians and geographers have debated for centuries where Thule really was. The descriptions Pytheas gave match several northern places.
Iceland
Many believe Thule was Iceland. Iceland is an island far north in the Atlantic Ocean. It fits the description of a land with long summer days and cold seas.
Shetland and Faroe Islands
The Shetland Islands are north of Scotland. The Faroe Islands are between Scotland and Iceland. Both are cold, northern islands. They could also fit Pytheas's description.
Norway
Some scholars think Thule might have been the coast of Norway. This would explain the frozen seas Pytheas mentioned. It is a very northern land.
Thule Today
The name Thule is still used today. There is a modern settlement in northern Greenland called Thule. Its local name is Qaanaaq. It is one of the northernmost towns in the world.
This modern Thule is not the same as the ancient island. It was named by explorers much later. It keeps the idea of a far northern place alive.
Related pages
Images for kids
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A local stamp of Greenland from 1936, with Thule written on it.
See also
In Spanish: Tule (mitología) para niños
