Born: fl. 500 BC
Died: fl. 500 BC
Cause of death: unspecified

Gender: Male
Religion: Pagan
Race or Ethnicity: Middle Eastern
Occupation: Explorer

Nationality: Ancient Carthage
Executive summary: Navigated west coast of Africa

Carthaginian navigator, who probably flourished about 500 BC. It has been conjectured that he was the son of the Hamilcar who was killed at Himera (480), but there is nothing to prove this. He was the author of an account of a coasting voyage on the west coast of Africa, undertaken for the purpose of exploration and colonization. The original, inscribed on a tablet in the Phoenician language, was hung up in the temple of Melkarth on his return to Carthage. What is generally supposed to be a Greek translation of this is still extant, under the title of Periplus, although its authenticity has been questioned. Hanno appears to have advanced beyond Sierra Leone as far as Cape Palmas. On the island which formed the terminus of his voyage the explorer found a number of hairy women, whom the interpreters called gorillas.

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