What does this research mean for the field?

Claudius Ptolemy's ancient 'Fortunate Islands' are uniquely identified as the Azores archipelago rather than the Canaries or Cape Verde, and his Prime Meridian was based on the Tropic of Cancer as the latitude datum. Novelty: ClaimNovelty.CONTRADICTORY. Consensus alignment: ConsensusAlignment.CHALLENGES_CONSENSUS.

What question did this study set out to answer?

This research aims to identify the true location of the ancient Fortunate Islands through advanced geodetic methods.

June 6, 2026Open Access

The Azores as the True Fortunate Islands: Deconstructing the Myth of Macaronesia

Key Points

This research aims to identify the true location of the ancient Fortunate Islands through advanced geodetic methods.
Applied geodetic reverse resection to redefine Ptolemy’s Prime Meridian
Conducted mathematical and error-theory analysis to ensure confidence in results
Analyzed data from major Mediterranean stations
Identified the Azores as the Fortunate Islands with 95% confidence
Decoded the Tropic of Cancer as the latitude Datum used during summer solstice
Vindicated Ptolemy’s scientific accuracy with a revised timeline of navigation

Abstract

This study resolves a two-millennium-old cartographic puzzle by applying geodetic reverse resection from major Mediterranean stations to redefine Claudius Ptolemy’s Prime Meridian (0^). The mathematical and error-theory analysis demonstrates with 95% confidence that the ancient "Fortunate Islands" are uniquely identified with the Azores archipelago, rather than the Canaries or Cape Verde. Furthermore, the investigation decodes the Tropic of Cancer as the actual latitude Datum used during the summer solstice, vindicating Ptolemy’s scientific accuracy and revealing an advanced, lost timeline of ancient Atlantic navigation.

The Azores as the True Fortunate Islands: Deconstructing the Myth of Macaronesia

Key Points

Abstract

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