Ultima Thule, Unknown Land of the Utmost North | Odd Salon UNKNOWN 2/7

Since its discovery by Pytheas in the 4th Century BCE, the idea of “Ultima Thule” has inspired debate and denial, envy and imagination-from Strabo to Sir Richard Francis Burton. From midnight suns to frozen seas, Pytheas' observations were so far-fetched that for centuries Thule was known only as a land of fantasy. Yet the very things that caused his ancient counterparts to mock him as a liar and charlatan, modern scholars take as the best evidence of his honesty.
Aaron Laycook ~ Ultima Thule, Unknown Land of the Utmost North
Odd Salon UNKNOWN: Stories of unsolved phenomena and secret histories, unanswered questions, uncharted territory, and enduring enigmas of science:
Recorded live 11/6/2018 at Public Works, San Francisco, CA
Curated by Amy Widdowson
Edit, Camera, Post production: John Adams
Sound: Boris
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ODD SALON: Expert talks on odd topics; odd talks on everything else.
Odd Salon presents live cocktail hour lectures, featuring short talks from the odd corners of history, science, art, and adventure, on stage, over cocktails. We invite experts and amateurs alike to have a drink with us and share inspiring and strange tales so we can all learn something new. Monthly live salons in San Francisco and New York City. Find out more: www.oddsalon.com

[@johnnicholas1488]

There seems some scholarly dispute as to wether Pythaeus actually visited Thule in person and wether it is the same place as Iceland. Our teacher here forgot to mention this fact but we must forgive him as he looks so good in glasses and his students seem to adore him. After all who gives a rat's ass about Thule?

[@NikephorosAer54]

It is Θούλη not Θουλή. Humor fine! See Barry Cunliffe's "The Extraordinary Voyage of Pytheas the Greek", a scientific essay. A Greek friend, Demetrios Maniates.

[@jesterruth1238]

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