Greek Islands

The Greek Islands, a storied archipelago in the Mediterranean, become a stage for some of the most revealing and dramatic episodes in the Nautilus's underwater tour. This region, with its volcanic landscapes and history of rebellion, draws out Captain Nemo's hidden philanthropy, his scientific curiosity, and the implacable hatred that drives him. It is here that the line between the scientist and the avenger blurs most profoundly, offering Professor Aronnax his most unsettling glimpses into the captain's secret life.

A Secret Errand and a Diver's Signal

On February 14, the Nautilus cruised near the island of Crete, then in the throes of a rebellion against the Ottoman Empire. While observing the waters, Aronnax was astonished to see a living diver, a man named Nicolas from Cape Matapan, known as "Il Pesce." To the professor's amazement, Captain Nemo signaled to the man, who responded and swam away. This encounter was no coincidence. Nemo then opened a safe containing a vast number of gold ingots, which he methodically packed into a chest. The chest was addressed in modern Greek characters and, under cover of night, was delivered by the skiff to an unknown recipient on the shore. The millions in gold, Aronnax realized, were a form of aid from the Man of the Waters to the oppressed people of Crete, a tangible act of philanthropy that contrasted sharply with Nemo's professed detachment from humanity.

Navigating the Volcanic Fires of Santorini

Shortly after leaving the Greek Islands, the Nautilus encountered a different kind of power. The temperature inside the ship rose unbearably, and the sea outside turned white and then red, filled with sulfurous steam. Captain Nemo explained they were near the island of Santorini, in a channel between the volcanic islets of Nea Kameni and Palea Kameni, witnessing an underwater eruption. He described the recent formation of new islands in 1866, which he had observed firsthand. The Nautilus was forced to retreat from the boiling water, a vivid demonstration of the raw, untamable forces of nature that even the most advanced technology could not withstand. This experience also underscored the dangers of the region, making Ned Land's plans for escape seem even more perilous.

The Avenger and the Roots of Hatred

The Greek Islands also serve as the emotional and historical anchor for Captain Nemo's deepest motivations. While the Nautilus was in the region, Aronnax saw the portraits of historical heroes in Nemo's stateroom, including fighters for Polish, Greek, Irish, Italian, and American independence. This gallery of martyrs and liberators hinted at Nemo's own identity as a champion of the oppressed. Later, in the Atlantic, the Nautilus visited the wreck of a French warship, the Avenger, which had sunk in 1794 after a heroic battle against the English. Nemo's passionate narration of the ship's history and his final, anguished cry of "Enough! Enough!" during the escape attempt revealed that his war was not against all humanity, but against a specific, unnamed oppressor, a nation he held responsible for the destruction of his own family and homeland. The Greek Islands, a land of rebellion, thus become a mirror for Nemo's own unending war.