Ponce de Leon's Search for the Elusive Fountain
Ponce de Leon's quest for the fountain of youth led to the discovery of Florida
and many other unexpected yet significant discoveries. His discoveries helped him to
become a rich man and a brave conquistador.
On March 3, 1513, Juan Ponce de Leon sailed from the island of Puerto Rico with
three ships. After asking King Ferdinand of Spain permission to conquer and settle the
island of Bimini, Ponce de Leon set sail on a quest for a mythical fountain of youth. The
thought of a mythical fountain that was said to give eternal youth to whomever drank
from it, allured the king. Perhaps this was one of the ways Ponce de Leon persuaded the
king into letting him sail on this voyage. Maybe by alluring the king into thinking the
fountain existed, Ponce was able to explore North America. It is very hard to believe for
many people that such an incredible fountain existed. King Ferdinand and Ponce believed
in such a fountain. There are many versions of the legend that refer to this mystical spring,
pool, stream, or river. If one bathed in this water, one's youth was restored. If a whole
new world could be revealed, why not a fountain of youth? After Christopher Columbus
had sailed to many undiscovered places, it is very easy to see why many Europeans
believed that there were places that held unknown phenomenons like the fountain out
there somewhere. This was a European tale that neither Ponce de Leon nor King
The first specific indication that Ponce aimed on exploring the Bahamas was a
letter about the fountain of youth. It was a 1514 letter from Pictro Martire d'Anghiera to
Pope Leo X. D'Angheria was a diplomat who represented the Pope in the Spanish royal
court. The letter that d'Angheria wrote provided Pope Leo with a brief account of
Ponce's amazing explorations in the Bahamas, which had taken place in ...