The actual term ‘Seven Seas’ may stem from Ancient and Medieval Europe and refer to the Mediterranean, Adriatic, Black, Red, Arabian and Caspian Seas, and the Persian Gulf. However, the phrase was used earlier in history in reference to a different collection of water bodies.
Modern variations have also been created to give a greater coverage of the globe, either by referring to the largest seven bodies of water or classifying the world’s oceans such that there are seven of them. Others would argue that the phrase is really just used to indicate experience and skill in seafaring, or having crossed many of the world’s large bodies of water, as in: ‘Aye, he’s certainly sailed the Seven Seas, alright’.
Photo courtesy of Andreas Julseth
This is an edited excerpt from the How To Sail The Seven Seas chapter of my forthcoming book: How To Get To The North Pole And Other Iconic Adventures.
