Was the country called Honduras, or Where did such a strange name come from?

The expression "The wrong country was called Honduras" is familiar to everyone. It is used when they want to emphasize dissatisfaction with their country and the prevailing order in it. Few people realize that the name of a country in Central America has exactly the meaning that we mean by using the catch phrase. What does it mean, why did it happen and who came up with the idea of calling the country not too flattering a word?

Everyone knows well that Christopher Columbus discovered America in 1492, although some do not quite agree with this. But few people know about the other expeditions of the great Genoese, of which there were three more. The last time Columbus ' ships crossed the Atlantic was in 1502, and during this voyage, the travelers were caught in an incredibly strong storm.

A natural cataclysm caught Columbus near the coast of Central America and an experienced navigator led his four caravels along the coast, in search of a bay closed from the wind and waves. After rounding a cape that protrudes far into the sea, the flagship caravel of the La Capitana flotilla found itself in calm water, and the wind suddenly subsided.

In addition, the sun came out from behind the clouds, which the crews of the caravels greeted with joyful shouts. The clerk who recorded all the events of the trip noted that at that moment Christopher Columbus, standing on the deck, loudly exclaimed: "Gracias a Dios que hemos salido de esas honduras!".

Translated from Spanish, Gracias a Dios means "Thank you to the Lord" and it was by the Grace of God that the saving cape was named, which bears this name even now. The whole short speech of the navigator can be literally translated as " Thank the Lord for getting out of these depths!". The word honduras ("depth") it can be understood in this application as "a hole", "a remote place", "a place forgotten by God and people".

Until the end of the 16th century, Honduras was called the eastern part of the territories of the Maya Indians, adjacent to the Cape of God's Mercy, but later the whole country received this name. It remains to add that Honduras has remained not the most pleasant place to live, so the name is quite suitable for it. And, of course, our popular expression that the wrong country was called Honduras is completely fair.