The word ‘pirate’ usually conjures an image of Blackbeard and Pirates of the Caribbean’s Captain Jack Sparrow.
Click start to play today’s pirate-themed Word Search.
That kind of swashbuckling, parrot-on-the-shoulder archetype was typical of the golden age of piracy, around the 18th century. But did you know the first pirates were far, far older? In fact, pirates have been around for nearly as long as seafaring itself.
The word ‘piracy’ comes from the Greek word peiráomai, which means “attempt [to steal]”. According to an April 2020 report in the National Geographic, some of the earliest written accounts of piracy come from Egypt. An inscription from the reign of Pharoah Amenhotep III, in the 1300s, describes having to build defenses in the Nile delta against maritime raiders. Most historians consider these raiders to be the first true pirates – they attacked everybody, regardless of their nationality, and did not answer to anyone.
One particular group of ancient pirates who inspired fear and terror, were known simply as the Sea Peoples. Egyptian texts highlight how they thrived in the Mediterranean during the 13th century BC, and how the Egyptians faced them in many bloody battles and skirmishes on the water. But even today, no one knows the identity or nationality of the Sea Peoples – it remains one of the biggest questions in Mediterranean history.
In another country that borders the Mediterranean, Italy, pirates created havoc and mayhem. The notorious Cilician pirates even kidnapped a young Julius Caesar in 75 BC, and held him hostage on the island of Farmakonisi. The Greek historian Plutarch described Caesar’s carefree reaction to being held captive for 38 days: he participated in the pirates' games, read his speeches to them and ‘joked’ that he would kill them all! The pirates laughed off his threats, greatly underestimating the future emperor of Rome. Once he was freed, Caesar hunted down the pirates and imprisoned them. Later, he crucified the entire lot, just as he often told them he would, on the island where they laughed at him.
Which pirate from history or fiction stands out to you the most? Play today’s Word Search and let us know at games@gulfnews.com.
