On the Thule of the Ancients

Abstract

The author investigates the suggestion that an account by the Greek astronomer, mathematician and navigator Pytheas of Marseilles may have referred to the Orkney Islands. He compares the surviving descriptions of Pytheas’ island to his own observations of Orkney, focusing on the climate, distance and hours of daylight reported, as well as the kind of food eaten on Thule. He argues against this island referring to either Norway, Denmark or Iceland, and concludes that Pytheas’ island of Thule must refer to the Shetland islands, possibly Foula.