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The Romans believed that “Ultima Thule,” first mentioned by the Greek explorer Pytheas, was an island beyond Britain that marked the edge of the known world.

Pytheas’ ancient vision of a polar sea may well become a reality in our lifetime.

Mercator based his map on a theory proposed 1,800 years earlier by Pytheas, the first Greek to breach the Strait of Gibraltar and check out the Atlantic for himself.

Pytheas sailed up the west coast of Europe, circumnavigated the British Isles, then continued north until he hit ice, possibly Iceland.

Pytheas’ travelogue was picked up by Pliny and others.