SHIPWRECK OF ST PAUL AT MALTA CORBITA?

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aukepalmhof
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SHIPWRECK OF ST PAUL AT MALTA CORBITA?

Post by aukepalmhof » Mon Jan 02, 2017 7:23 pm

The shipwreck of Apostle Paul at Malta, what do we know, most is from the Bible, in where is given that Paul sailed from Caesarea via Sidon with a coastal ship on a northerly course along the coast to the south coast of Turkey which they followed till they arrived in Myra.
Then his guard Julius a centurion found another ship what was sailing to Italy, not much is given on her details in the Bible but it is believed that she was a Roman grainship from Egypt bound for Italy, most probably a “corbita” a Roman merchant ship, of which is given that she could carry in the first century AD up to 400 ton. Estimate length 25m and 6.7m wide.
The “corbita” used from the 1st- 3rd century A.D. carried one mast stepped amidships setting a large square mainsail, two topsails and an artemon (spritsail). Steered by two heavy quarter rudders. Did have a cabin house aft.
When she left Myra she had 276 people on board and a cargo of wheat.
The next port of call was Fair Haven (Kaloi Limenes) Crete, now an oil terminal and bunker port. I have been there one time, has now a small settlement with a population around the 25, but most probably in Apostle Paul days there was nothing, most probably one of the reasons they did not winter there.
It was decided to sail to Phoenix and to winter there a distance from around 34 miles, but after sailing she did run in a heavy storm and could not reach Phoenix. The only thing they could do to let the vessel drift away with the wind and seas.
After 14 days with terrible weather she reached land, soundings taken did give that the depth decreased and four anchors were let go from the stern, to keep the ship with the bow to the land and wait till daylight, when daylight came they were very near to bay with a sandy beach, till today not with certainty is given which bay the ship stranded in Malta, sources give Salina Bay, St Thomas Bay were four Roman anchors have been found, St Paul’s Bay is not much likely that she stranded there, did not have a sandy beach.
After cutting the anchor ropes, the ship only under a spritsail drifted on the beach, all people on board were saved but the vessel was lost. Then they found out that she were stranded on Malta.
The four Roman anchors found in St Thomas Bay you can find in the Malta Maritime Museum, labelled with Roman anchors.

The painting by H. Smartly, engraved by H. Adlard. From James Smith book, The Voyage and Shipwreck of St. Paul.

Malta 1899 10sh sg35, scott?. 1914 10sh sg104, scott?. 1922 10s sg121, scott?
http://pauls-journeys.com/the-apostle-p ... ipwreck-1/
Source: Various internet sites.
Attachments
APOSTLE PAUL SHIP.jpg
1899 st paul.jpg
1914 st paul.png
1922 st paul.jpg

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