So the story goes that the guys (for they were all guys) who sailed to sea in ancient times in order to sell their wares in other lands were dependent on coastlines to get them from place to place. Shun the open waters did these ancient sailors, the story goes, so that the capricious winds known to plague ancient seas wouldn't destroy the poor ships, which would have no coastline to tack for in desperation.
Well, not any more, if evidence unearthed (and un-watered) is to be believed. You never can tell what to believe coming out of Greece these days, especially if it has to do with money and debt and all of that sort of thing, but the culture ministry doesn't really have that sort of agenda, so maybe we take more than a grain of salt away with this report:
Two shipwrecks found deep in the sea between Corfu and Italy are of Roman-era ships. The ships were found nearly one mile deep, which would be far deeper than ships previously found. The usual depth is between 100 and 200 feet, and the usual place is along the coastline. A massive number of shipwrecks have fit this bill, but the latest two to be discovered do not.
Crews digging to put in a gas pipeline between Greece and Italy found the wrecks. A Greek oceanography crew then scanned the area, including the use of a robot submarine, and delivered footage of amphorae, anchors, ballast stones, and even cooking utensils. Some of the amphorae was produced in north Africa.
The announcement could well be a boon for Greece's struggling archaeology industry, which no doubt needs some sort of infusion before the government gets too desperate and starts selling off the Acropolis and other antiques.
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