How Far Was Tarshish from Nineveh? Unraveling the Mystery of an Ancient Distance
Determining the precise distance between Tarshish and Nineveh presents a significant challenge due to the complexities surrounding the identification of Tarshish itself. Biblical and historical accounts mention both cities, painting a picture of significant trade and cultural exchange, yet pinpointing their exact locations remains a subject of ongoing scholarly debate. This ambiguity makes calculating the distance between them incredibly difficult, demanding an exploration of the various proposed locations for Tarshish.
What is the location of Tarshish?
This is the crucial question. The Bible refers to Tarshish numerous times, describing it as a place of significant maritime trade, particularly with silver, gold, ivory, and apes. This suggests a coastal location, probably far removed from Nineveh. However, the exact location remains a mystery, with several prominent theories proposed:
- Southern Spain (Tartessos): This is a widely accepted theory, identifying Tarshish with the ancient Phoenician trading colony of Tartessos, located in what is now southwestern Spain.
- The Aegean Islands/Mediterranean Coast: Some scholars suggest Tarshish may have been situated among the Aegean islands or along the Mediterranean coast, reflecting a network of trade routes rather than a single, fixed location.
- Other Locations: Various alternative locations have been proposed, including areas in North Africa or even further afield in the Atlantic.
What is the location of Nineveh?
Nineveh's location is considerably less ambiguous. Archaeological evidence firmly places Nineveh on the eastern bank of the Tigris River, near modern-day Mosul, Iraq. This provides a relatively fixed starting point for our calculations.
How can we estimate the distance, given the uncertainty?
Because the location of Tarshish is uncertain, providing a definitive numerical distance is impossible. However, we can look at potential distances based on the most prominent theory:
- Tarshish (Tartessos) in Southern Spain: Using modern mapping tools and assuming Tarshish was indeed Tartessos, the distance between Nineveh (near Mosul) and Tartessos would be approximately 3,000-4,000 kilometers (1,860-2,485 miles), depending on the specific locations within these regions and the route taken. This journey would have required a significant maritime voyage.
It's vital to emphasize that this is a rough estimate based on one hypothesis. Other theories place Tarshish much closer or much further away.
How long would a journey from Nineveh to Tarshish have taken?
The journey time would have been drastically affected by the location of Tarshish and the technology of the era. Assuming the Tartessos location and using ancient seafaring methods, the voyage could have taken several months, potentially even a year, due to weather conditions, navigation limitations, and the need to make port calls along the way.
Was the journey from Nineveh to Tarshish only by sea?
Not necessarily. The route likely involved both land and sea travel. Goods would probably have been transported overland from Nineveh to a coastal port, then shipped to Tarshish. The specific routes would depend on the location of Tarshish.
In conclusion, the distance between Nineveh and Tarshish remains a fascinating and unresolved question in historical geography. While we cannot provide a precise answer without definitively locating Tarshish, examining the different proposals and their implications allows us to appreciate the scope of ancient trade networks and the challenges faced by those who traversed them.
