Who does not know the famous "Flying Dutchman"? Probably everyone has heard about this legendary ship, wading through the expanses of the seas and oceans and catching up to the passing ships. The history of this ship dates back to the 16th century. It was at that time that the famous legend of the ghost ship was born. There are many variants of this story, and we give here two most popular versions of the appearance of this myth.
According to the first of them, the ship of the same name did exist. It was a fast merchant ship, captained by a drunkard, atheist and blasphemer named Van der Straaten. The "Flying Dutchman" was famous for its speed, and once the arrogant captain promised (not least because of the influence of alcohol) that he would be able to go around the Cape of Good Hope, even if for this he would have to ship until the very end of the world. After these words, the whole team was punished by the devil himself, and to this day the terrible ghost of the ship floats along the sea surface, not giving rest to the sailors and passengers of many ships.
The second version is no less exciting. According to this legend, the "Flying Dutchman" was struck by an epidemic, and no port agreed to admit it, fearing the spread of the disease. After several failures the ship disappeared. Since then, the restless, not finding his place, he walks the ocean waters and avenges people.
It is worth noting that these stories have the right to life, because the "Flying Dutchman", a legend of which has been alive for many centuries, according to people, really appeared before many ships. What is it - falsification or mass hysteria? And perhaps, a misunderstanding? Anyway, many sailors, being superstitious, really believe in the legend of this ship. According to the naval beliefs, any ship in the way of which the "Flying Dutchman" will meet, is doomed to collapse, and all its crew members and passengers necessarily lose their reason. In addition to the already described ghosts, sailors and residents of some coastal settlements have repeatedly met ships - empty, without a single soul, without a hint of the remains of the crew. Was there a real "Dutchman" among such ships? Or are they all victims of a ghost ship, and the people who were on these ships, frightened of it, were thrown out in terror overboard?
"Flying Dutchman", a ghost ship, which to this day excites the minds of many sailors, has become popular in art. Probably, in the most appropriate on the subject of the series of films - "Pirates of the Caribbean" - very well beaten by this topic. Appears this object, along with his sinister captain and in the famous animated series about the sponge Boba in square trousers ("SpongeBob"). A lot of literary works also contain references and references to the legendary ship. And today this legend stirs the minds of millions of people around the world. And what is most striking, from time to time are still, according to eyewitnesses, real evidence of the existence of this mystical vessel.