Bento de Góis Statue

Bento de Góis (1562 – 11 April 1607) was a Portuguese Jesuit missionary and explorer. He is known as the first known European to travel overland from India to China, via current-day Afghanistan and the Pamir Mountains. Góis is best remembered for his long exploratory journey through Central Asia, under the garb of an Armenian merchant, in search of the Kingdom of Cathay.

Góis left Agra for Lahore in late 1602 or early 1603 (sources differ), and in February 1603, he left Lahore with the annual caravan bound for Kashgaria’s capital, Yarkand. His cover identity was that of an Armenian merchant with a somewhat unlikely name Abdullah Isái. Góis adopted this disguise during his 1602–1607 expedition to China to avoid detention, as European travelers were often barred from entry while neutral Armenian merchants were permitted.

He was accompanied by two Greeks chosen by Xavier: a priest, Leo Grimano, who travelled to Kabul, and a merchant, Demetrios, who also separated from Góis in Kabul but later rejoined him in Yarkand. Instead of the four servants given to him in Agra, he hired in Lahore a real Armenian residing in that city, Isaac, who accompanied Góis to the very end.

The statue of Bento de Góis in his birthplace of Vila Franca do Campo, Azores, depicts the 17th-century Jesuit explorer in the traditional Armenian merchant costume.

Group: Monumental Building

Type: Statue

Century: 20th century

Geography: Vila Franca do Campo, Azores, Portugal

Latitude: 37.716227318465, Longitude: -25.43137040003

Alternative names:

Contributed by: Armenian Heritage