The 360 Degrees Historical Research Association is bringing to life the epic sea voyage narrated in Homer’s Odyssey with a ship reconstructed using ancient techniques. This unique project not only follows a mythological route but also presents a multi-layered narrative where history, culture, and sustainability converge. This traditional boat, built using the mortise and tenon technique without any nails, carries humanity’s common heritage with its wind-gliding sail, distinguished by the horse figure at its prow. Supported by Enerjisa Üretim, this journey set to begin in the Aegean Sea aims to connect the traces of the past with the present.
After the 10-year Trojan War, dark ages began for Mediterranean civilizations, writing was forgotten, and civilization was on the brink of collapse. It was during this period that a journey was born in Homer’s imagination: to go to Troy, to Bozcaada, to understand the great war on-site, to listen to it from bards, and to immortalize this story. This epic narrative, which would lay the foundations of world literature, needed a boat. But not just any boat. A boat with a horse head figure symbolizing peace at its prow, capable of traveling by both sail and oar, a carrier of the alphabet.
Mualla Erkurt, President of the 360 Degrees Historical Research Association, describes the journey as follows: “This journey is not only a historical reenactment but also a call that unites the legacy of the past with the vision of the future. It is a transition from the darkness of war to the light of peace and knowledge. We believe that the wooden horse figure described in the Iliad and left on the shores of Troy by the Athenians could actually be one of the horse-headed Hippoi boats from the maritime tradition of that era.
To reconstruct Homer’s dream in today’s world and carry the wisdom of the past into the future, we are listening to the wind of the Aegean and the voices of the bards. This journey is not just a route; it is a call of culture, memory, and civilization.”
İhsan Erbil Bayçöl, CEO of Enerjisa Üretim, the main supporter of the project, stated: “For thousands of years, the wind has carried not only sails but also humanity’s imagination and desire for discovery. Today, the same wind is one of the strongest symbols for us to reach renewable energy and a sustainable future. While this sailboat, which carried the sailors of ancient times, reminds us of the wisdom of the past, we are shaping the future with our wind investments. We are proud to contribute as the main supporter to the ‘In the Footsteps of Homer with Hippoi’ project and to work with the 360 Degrees Historical Research Association, which has made very valuable contributions to our country through this project; because this journey is a reflection of our connection with culture, history, and nature.”
The 360 Degrees Historical Research Association continues to be one of Turkey’s leading institutions in revitalizing historical memory with these projects. To date, the association has carried out historically and culturally invaluable projects such as the Uluburun Ship, the Kybele Bireme Ship’s Foça-Marseille Historical Journey, the Cycladic Boat with its Sewn Construction, and the Underwater Archaeopark. Each of these studies, based on scientific foundations and conducted in cooperation with academic institutions, aims to provide new perspectives to today’s people while tracing the past.
Phoenicians and Hippoi Boats
The Phoenicians, master sailors of the Mediterranean, used “Hippoi” boats as a symbol of their strong connection with the seas.
Known for the horse head figure on their prow, these vessels were symbols of speed, power, and protection.
Using the Hippoi boats for both trade and exploration, the Phoenicians established a sphere of influence stretching from the coasts of the Levant to North Africa, and from the Iberian Peninsula to Britain. These vessels were not merely a means of transportation but also a reflection of the Phoenician culture’s spirit, which was deeply integrated with the sea.
Today, the Hippoi is remembered as a powerful symbol of the Phoenicians’ maritime genius and their mark on Mediterranean history.
About the 360 Degrees Historical Research Association
Founded in 2004 in İzmir-Urla, the 360 Degrees Historical Research Association consists of archaeologists, historians, mariners, engineers, boat builders, and sea volunteers. The association conducts research on maritime history and archaeology with the aim of introducing Turkey’s rich history to the world; it presents the results of these studies, carried out under the heading of ‘experimental archaeology’, to the public through revival projects, documentary films, exhibitions, publications, panels, and conferences.
Having successfully implemented 14 projects in the fields of archaeoparks, museums, and revivals over 21 years, the association has been deemed worthy of awards by many institutions since its establishment; in 2017, it received the Jury Special Award in the İzmir Metropolitan Municipality’s 15th Respect for History Local Conservation Awards, and in 2018, it received the 4th International Özkan Mert Award. The association’s projects were introduced as a course at the Maine Maritime Academy, a leading US educational institution, in 2013. Also a member of the Advisory Board of Ankara University’s Center for Applied and Research Maritime Archaeology and Koç University’s Maritime Forum, the association continues its work as of 2025 with the Hippoi Boat, following in the footsteps of Homer.
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