The sacred island of Venus Marina. An ancient sacred reference for navigation in the Bay of Cádiz

Abstract

At present, the famous transcendence of the Bay of Cádiz is undoubted, as a geographical milestone for navigation, which brought together, since Antiquity, unbeatable port conditions. The continuous transfer of ships by its waters, required, on the part of the sailor, a deep knowledge of this and its coasts. In the Bay of Cadiz we documented some landmarks on the coast that could possibly help the navigator to access, exit or simply move around this wide road. An example of this is the famous island consecrated to Venus Marina cited by Avieno. Which, the historiographical tradition has identified with the famous island of Erytheia. Analyzing its nautical utility and its characteristic topography, we have been able to determine that this island of the Cadiz archipelago, constituted a reference to navigate; and also, a component of the coastal signaling system in the area of the Bay of Cádiz.