The legend
of the Flying Dutchman concerns a ghost ship that can never make
port, doomed to sail the oceans forever. It probably originates
from 17th-century nautical folklore. The oldest extant version
dates to the late 18th century.
Sightings in the 19th and 20th centuries report the ship to be
glowing with ghostly light. If hailed by another ship the crew
of the Flying Dutchman will try to send messages to land, or to
people long dead. In ocean lore, the sight of this phantom ship
is a portent of doom.... |