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| iZMiR-FOÇA-MARSEILLE/A JOURNEY INTO HISTORY |
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In the 600 BC, one of the 12 Ionian cities in Western Anatolia, the Aegean, was Phokaia. Phokaia had set up many colonies on the Mediterranean. Not only had they set up those colonies, but they did also carry all their knowledge and culture to the Mediterranean – in other words to today’s Europe. The most prominent of those colonies is Marseille. The main objective of the project is to once again explain and submit the proofs of the influence of the Aegean on Mediterranean’s historical and chronological interrelations.
On the brass plaque that is located in Marseille Port, it writes, “This city was set up in 600 BC by the Phokaians |
| who had come from Anatolia.” This inscription is of great significance as the starting point of this Project. |
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Under this Ýzmir – Foça – Marseille Project for Journey into History, the Kybele ship, which has been rebuilt according to the archeological data, will set her sails from the shores of Foca and head for Marseille, to once again make this historical journey. We will, on our way stop at the places that are currently named as Velia, Aleria, Nice, Antipolis, the places where the Phokaians had back in 600 BC set up their colonies.
The scientific consultant of the project is Prof. Dr. Ömer Özyiðit, the Chief of the Phokaia Excavations. Ýzmir |
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Branch of the Chamber of Turkish Naval Architects and Marine Engineers did the drawings of the project ship, and the Turkish Lloyd Foundation did the survey |
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360 Degree Historical Researches Association does, in this project, cooperate with izmir French Cultural Center under the name of “mare Nostrum”.
The “Ýzmir-Foça-Marseille Project for Journey into History”, which is considered a part of the “Grand Activities of the Turkish Season in France” that will be launched between July 2009 – March 2010, and which is organized by the Ministries of Foreign Affairs and Europe, Culture and Transportation of France, the Foreign AffairsMinistries of the Turkey, has been granted the title of “La Belle”.
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| PROJECT OBJECTIVES |
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| •To shade light on the sources of the shared culture of the Anatolia and Europe, and to awaken historical consciousness |
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| •To emphasize the influence of the Ionian colonial migrations that had started from the Aegean, on the historical basis of today’s European identity |
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| •To contribute to making the Mediterranean a sea of peace and fraternity Explaining that the Mediterranean is a continent of waters (6th Continent – The Mediterranean) |
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| •To contribute to Turkey’s presentation in France and France’s presentation in Turkey, and to the historical friendly relations of these two peoples |
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PROJECT ACTIVITIES |
•Holding conferences and exhibitions;
•Presentation of the results of this project, which is implemented by following the rules of experimental archeology, in the papers that would be submitted at international symposiums;
•Publication of the scientific findings and the project’s log book starting – from the preparatory phase until the end;
•Shooting of a film which includes interviews with the archeological authorities as well as the scenes from the voyage, and also by referring to the historical documents;
•Holding of an international symposium named “Phocaea and its Colonies” at the end of the project |
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| PHASES OF THE PROJECT |
The “Ýzmir-Foça-Marseille Project for Journey into History”, which is considered a part of the “Grand Activities of the Turkish Season in France” that will be launched between July 2009 – March 2010, and which is organized by the Ministries of Foreign Affairs and Europe, Culture and Transportation of France, the Foreign as well as Culture and Tourism Ministries of the Turkey, has been granted the title of “La Belle”.
The journey will start in the month of May, with a ceremony that would be held in Foca. We will again make this historical journey to Marseille and on our way, we will stop at the ports where Phokaians had set up their Mediterranean colonies, which are currently named as Elea, Aleria, Nice and Antipolis.
Later on, it is planned to visit the cities Fos, Arles, Avignon, Valance, Vienne, Lyon, Villefrance, Macon, Chalon and Balloy on the French Canal, and arrive at Paris. At the scientific and cultural events that will be open to the public, and which will be held in the cities that would be visited, as well as during the Paris visit, intercultural shared elements will be highlighted.
It is planned to return to Istanbul after the “Turkey Year 2009” activities in France by sailing on the River Danube, and to participate to the “2010 Istanbul the Cultural Capital”. On the return trip from France on River Danube, we shall pass through Germany, Austria, Slovakia, Hungary, Croatia, Serbia and Bulgaria and arrive at Constanta Port of Romania; then crossing the Black Sea, and eventually participating to “2010 Istanbul the Cultural Capital” activities. |
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| BUILDING OF KYBELE SHIP |
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After the historical database is concluded, the technical drawings of Kybele ship were done by the Izmir Branch of the Chamber of Marine Engineers, and the manufacturing process was audited by Turkish Lloyd Foundation. In order to minimize the risks of the project, and considering the heavy seas, when building Kybele ship, antique forms were observed but antique manufacturing technologies were not used.
Since the cultural objectives of the 1700 nautical miles long voyage of the group of scientists and volunteers have the priority, navigation safety has been the number-one concern. The scientific objectives of the project are |
| the routes, the sails, which were used to utilize the primary propelling force of those years – the wind; oars and navigation. |
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| MAST – BOOM – SAIL PROPERTIES |
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THE MAST
Bireme ship’s mast is 12 meter long with a diameter of 30 cm, and made of massif black pine |
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THE BOOM
It is 13.5 meter long with a diameter of 12 cm, and consist of two black pine pieces. |
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| SAIL |
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The rectangular shaped sails are 7 meter long and 12.5 meter wide. They have one boom. They are made of canvas flax. Hemp ropes are used on the sails. The shape and angle of the sail can be adjusted by using brail ropes. This is an easier system that that which was used in those old days. |
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The sails are made of canvas linen |
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Sail riggings are made of hemp ropes.
You may adjust the sail form and angle by using the brails
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| OARS AND THE RUDDER |
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OARS
Bireme ship has 20 oars. The oars are 5 meter long. 12 kilogram lead balance weights were placed at the oar tops in order to enable the oarsmen to row easier and for maximum efficiency.
Under normal conditions, it takes a 5 kilogram force to row one oar. This may vary depending on the weather conditions.
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RUDDERS
There are two rudders; one at the starboard and the other at the board. When sailing and also when rowing long distances, they enable keeping of the bow of the ship at the desired direction.
These rudders are difficult to use because they are not synchronized very well. Maneuvering for berthing by using them is very difficult. |
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| SCIENTIFIC COMMITEE |
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Chairperson of the Committee:
• Prof. Dr. Ömer Özyigit Aegean University, Archeology Department of the Faculty of Literature, Chief of the Phokaia (Foca) Excavations
• Prof. Dr. Hayat Erkanal, Ankara University, Faculty of Languages History and Geography (DTCF), Chairperson of the Archeology Department, Chief of Urla-Limantepe Excavations
• Didier Laroche, French Anatolian Researches Institute Ambassade of France En Turquie Centre Culturel Français Ýzmir, Centre De Recherche Historique D’Ýzmir
• Osman Erkurt, Archeologis, Ýstanbul University
• Ýzmir Branch of the Chamber of Marine Engineers
• Turkish Lloyd Foundation
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