1. What is the significance of the Argonauts' route through the Qattara Depression?
The significance of the Argonauts' route through the Qattara Depression lies in its historical and geographical context. According to Apollonius Argonautica, the Argonauts were sailing from Siwa Oasis to the Mediterranean Sea, passing through the Qattara Depression. The route is described with details, highlighting the challenges faced by the Argonauts in finding a passage between the Tritonis Lake and the sea. The ancient text uses the word 'pelagos-sea' to indicate the large dimensions of the area, and the word 'denaion khronon' suggests that the Argonauts were sailing for days to find the exit from the lake. The absence of a visible waterway from the Qattara Depression to the Mediterranean Sea led the Argonauts to seek assistance from the local gods. God Triton, in the form of King Eurypylus, showed them the sea and the lake's deep mouth, indicating the vastness of the area. The route taken by the Argonauts from South to North, reaching near Moghra Lake, further emphasizes the geographical significance of the Qattara Depression in their journey. The existence of a palaeo-river with a direction from east to west in the region, as demonstrated by Khan et al (2014), adds to the historical and geographical importance of the Qattara Depression in the context of the Argonauts' route.
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2. What is the significance of 'God Triton' in Figure 4?
'God Triton' in Figure 4 refers to the guidance provided by Triton, a mythical sea god, to the Argonauts as they navigate through the narrow passage connecting Tritonis Lake to the Mediterranean Sea. This passage is depicted as a challenging route, requiring divine aid for successful navigation. The ancient Greek word 'regmines-breakers' is used to describe the environment, resembling a steep and vertically carved coast with crashing sea waves. The 'dielusis-outlet' mentioned in the text refers to the exit point of Tritonis Lake, which is located in the middle of the high and rocky exposures. The significance of 'God Triton' lies in the historical context of the Egyptians' ability to create man-made lakes and canals, as well as the local population's knowledge of this passage, which they provided to the Argonauts for their journey.
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3. What is the exact location of Tritonis Lake according to Apollonius' description?
According to Apollonius' description, the Argonauts carried the ship from Syrtis Gulf, for 12 days and nights, in the desert of Libya inland where they arrived in Tritonis Lake. The lake was located in the water environment of Siwa Oasis and Qattara Depression, in Egypt. The 'water continuation' between Siwa Oasis and part of Qattara Depression in today's Dabaa formation and the sabkha formations, allowed sailing within it, from south to north. The Argonauts reached Tritonis Lake by following the traces of Poseidon's horse, either by floating the ship in the existing waters or by pulling and dragging the ship on the sand, using the strength of their shoulders. The route from Syrtis Gulf to Tritonis Lake had a length of 633 km and was realized with an average speed of 2.2 km/hour, nonstop, during 12 days and nights. The outlet of Tritonis Lake was described as a narrow passage, starting from Moghra Lake, traversing the Diffa Plateau, and ending at Sidi Abd El Rahman, located 20 km west of El Alamein, on the Egyptian coast.
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