Himilco was a Carthaginian navigator and explorer who lived during the late 6th or early 5th century BC, a period of time where Carthage held significant sway over its neighboring regions.
[1] Himilco was quoted three times by Rufius Festus Avienius, who wrote Ora Maritima, a poetical account of the geography in the 4th century AD.
[3] However, no hard archeological or DNA evidence has been found to suggest that he arrived in Britain, nor is his voyage mentioned by subsequent English (Bede) or Irish historians.
He traveled to northwestern France, as well as the territory of the Oestrimini tribe living in Portugal, likely in order to trade for tin (to be used for making bronze) and other precious metals.
[5] Himilco described his journeys as quite harrowing, repeatedly reporting sea monsters and seaweed,[6] likely in order to deter Greek rivals from competing on their new trade routes.