Renowned Archaeologist Lectures on “The Voyage of Nia” at Florida Tech Oct. 2

MELBOURNE–Florida Institute of Technology hosts Robert Marx, renowned underwater archaeologist and deep sea explorer, to lecture on “The Voyage of Niña,” Oct. 2. The free lecture will be held on campus in the Gleason Performing Arts Center at 6:30 p.m.

Marx will share the excitement of crossing the Atlantic in an authentic replica of Columbus’ smallest caravel, the Niña, which was only 39 feet long. The six-month-long epic voyage was between Palos, Spain, and the Bahamian Island of San Salvador. He and his crew of eight used the same equipment, clothing, navigation tools, food and strong spirits–such as wine and brandy–as did Columbus and his crew. They braved five hurricanes, starvation and thirst, and were becalmed for almost a month when passing through the dreaded Saragasso Sea in the Atlantic.

Because of his part in this journey, Marx was made a knight-commander in the Order of Isabela the Catholic by the Spanish government. Marx has authored 64 books and more than 900 popular articles and archaeological reports, and has been knighted in three countries. He is a pioneer scuba diver and started as a diving specialist in the U.S. Marine Corps in 1953. SInce 1960 he has worked in the archives and libraries of more than 40 countries and spent over two years in the Archivo de las Indias in Seville, Spain, the main repository for researching Spanish maritime shipping and trade.

The Gleason Performing Arts Center is located at 150 W. University Blvd. For more information contact Ann Marie Kousari at (321) 674-6152.