John Sanderson

English merchant John Elderd (1552–1632) engaged in trade of Eastern goods, particularly silk and other types of fabrics, starting from 1584. Therefore, he undertook trade journeys to Istanbul and other cities between 1552 and 1632. Sanderson shared his impressions of his Eastern journey through letters to his country. What is significant in Sanderson's impressions is the belief at that time that Homer had lived and that the locals claimed his tomb was on the island of Chios (Sakız). Another important topic in Sanderson's memories, having passed through the Dardanelles several times, is the uninterrupted continuation of local knowledge regarding the place where the Ottomans first crossed into Europe:

"We climbed a mountainous place on the island of Chios (Sio Kastro), where the poet Homer is said to be buried (they call this place Gardamolo village).

On the twenty-third, we set out and on the twenty-seventh, we passed by the front of Old Troy, where some ruins can be seen. Then, we passed through a place called the Dardanelles, where there are two large castles (the name given to the city of Çanakkale by Europeans at that time, R.A). Shortly after passing these, we passed by the ruins of an old village called Hereto; it is said that the Turks first crossed into Europe from here (Another name for this place is Gaziler pier, R.A). Then we proceeded towards Gallipoli (Gelibolu) and Rodoste (Tekirdağ) and arrived in Constantinople (Istanbul) on the third of March...

On the first of January 1592, we were in Petras in the Morea... Then we passed many islands, and after the island of Taradano, we reached the cape where Troy is located; after passing Çanakkale (Dardanell/Dardailli), where there are two large castles, we arrived in Gallipoli (Gelibolu) on the 7th of March."