I found a painting of an old galleon-type ship with torn white sails, and a large white figurehead of an angel archer, bow drawn, with an arrow that appeared to be on fire.  In the corner of the painting an inscription read “Il Cercatore Del Dannato” along with a signature that appears to read “Michelangelo.”  This must have been the ship that played host to a plethora of Grandpa Joe’s stories.  It has a long and mysterious history that has spanned the last seven centuries.  With what grandpa told me, along with a little research of my own, this is what I think I know.

During the late 1300s, the rich and powerful of western Europe were being terrorized by a cunning thief known only as El Rey Fantasma. (the Phantom King) He spent years stealing art, jewels, and even the crown of King Edward III.  Nations all over Europe searched for this famed thief but after years and years of searching nobody even knew what he looked like.

At this same time, in Lisbon, Portugal, a ship was being built.  This wasn’t just any ship; it was being called the Chariot of God.  Legend says that an angel visited the bishop who led the congregations of Santa Maria Maior cathedral.  The bishop was instructed to gather a branch from the tree of life, a stone of pure fire opal, a thread from the Shroud of Turin, and thirty pieces of silver.  After the items were gathered, they were to be placed on the alter in the cathedral and all the doors locked for 40 days.  When 40 days were up, a ship would be waiting in the harbor for the bishop to spread the word of God.

El Rey Fantasma heard about this ship and hatched and idea to take it and plunder the world.  The bishop locked the doors and the 40 days began.  40 days of waiting by the bishop and 40 days of figuring how to outsmart angels by the thief.  Then, on the morning after the days of waiting had expired, the bishop and his congregation walked down to the harbor in time to see El Rey Fantasma sailing away on a ship built by angels.  During his time as captain, the ship acquired the name Il Cercatore Del Dannato. (Seeker of the Damned) This name came from El Rey Fantasma’s treatment of prisoners.  All prisoners were given 2 choices: swear allegiance-til-death to the captain or execution by him, doomed either way.  El Rey Fantasma had an immensely successful career but, as all humans do, he began to grow more aware of his mortality.  He devised a plan to steal Poseidon’s trident, which would grant him immortality as well as control over all the oceans and seas.  Ancient Greek writings say Poseidon’s earthly dwelling is a castle of jewels located at the bottom of Thermaikos Kolpos (the Gulf of Salonika) near modern day Vergina, Greece.  He attempted his grand heist in 1410 and Il Cercatore Del Dannato was not seen again for 100 years.  El Rey Fantasma was not so lucky, for it is said that Poseidon caught him and banished him to Tartaros for rest of eternity.