In Life of Sertorius, Plutarch recounts two Atlantic islands off Africa, separated by a narrow channel: one with a mild climate and spontaneous fruit, the other with abundant game and hunting. He associates them with the Hesperides and Elysian Fields and with a tradition that Homer saw them. The video argues that plotting the ancient 10,000-furlong distance from North Africa toward the Azores identifies the site with Angra do Heroísmo; Plutarch himself does not make that identification.
Plutarch's Atlantic islands and the video's claimed Angra do Heroísmo link
Site mentioned
📍 Central Zone of the Town of Angra do Heroismo in the Azores🌍 Show on the globe
Key facts
- Plutarch (c. AD 46–120) recounts in Life of Sertorius two Atlantic islands off Africa, separated by a narrow channel.
- The passage gives their distance as 10,000 stadia, rendered as furlongs in English translations. An ancient Greek or Roman stade was about 185 m, giving roughly 1,150 miles (1,850 km); 1,250 miles (2,011 km) applies only if furlong means the modern English 220-yard unit.
- One island is described as having a mild climate and trees bearing fruit spontaneously; the other has abundant game and people devoted to hunting.
- Plutarch associates the islands with the Hesperides and Elysian Fields and says Homer was believed to have seen them.
- No cited source identifies the islands with Angra do Heroísmo; that is the video presenter's proposed interpretation.
Sources
Plutarch, Life of Sertorius 8 - Lexundrialexundria.com
they are ten thousand furlongs distant from Africa, and are called the Islands of the Blest. They enjoy moderate rains at long intervals, and winds
Plutarch's life of Sertorius - Books & Bootsastrofella.wordpress.com
Sertorius had proved himself such a brave and resourceful officer that he was sent out as military tribune by Didius the praetor to Spain in 97.
Sertorius by Plutarch - The Internet Classics Archiveclassics.mit.edu
Sertorius was ordered to raise soldiers and provide arms, which he performed with a diligence and alacrity, so contrasting with the feebleness and slothfulness ...
Sertorius: The Greatest Roman Rebel - Antigoneantigonejournal.com
The main virtue of Plutarch's Life of Sertorius is that it is an amazing story. But it's not “good to teach with”, and people rarely use it to “ ...
Plutarch's Sertorius - The University of North Carolina Pressuncpress.org
Quintus Sertorius (126–73 B.C.) was a political and military leader during the period of turmoil that ended with the Roman Republic's ...
Life of Sertorius - Plutarchgreekmythology.com
It covers his early campaigns, his stay in Africa and the tale of the Islands of the Blest, the white doe, his wars with Roman armies, his treaty with ...
Plutarch, Life of Sertorius 6lexundria.com
And finally, Sulla encamped near Scipio and made friendly overtures, assuming that peace was to be made, and proceeded to corrupt his army.[18]Sertorius warned ...
Sertorius - Perseus Catalogcatalog.perseus.org
Quick-Find an Edition. In Perseus go to page 1 to: Sertorius, Plutarch's Lives Volume VIII. 1 of 2 editions. To select a specific edition, see below.
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