Some readers have even concluded that the book is a total fake. Readers who persevere in Polo's often confusing, disjointed text will encounter preposterous supernatural events and an astonishing bestiary, including men with the features of dogs. Truth to tell, many of Marco Polo's tales of treasure were just that-tales.

A golden palace? Japan's Golden Pavilion, the gold-leaf-covered Kinkakuji, was built in 1397, a century after Polo published. Although the handwriting may not be Columbus', he is said to have sought Cipangu among the Caribbean isles on his 1492 voyage.Ĭolumbus never came anywhere near Japan, of course, but what would he have found? Red pearls? Experts say the oysters that produce them don't inhabit Japanese waters. In Christopher Columbus' copy of The Description, which survives, 'gold in the greatest abundance' and 'red pearls' are written in the margin beside the Cipangu reports. Though fascinated, Polo's readers, according to one account, concluded that his tales were 're dreams.' But as decades passed, some began to take Polo seriously. Scholars believe Europeans had never heard of Cipangu before Polo told them about it in The Description of the World, which he started writing about 1298, a few years after he returned home to Venice from a 24-year Asian odyssey. And all the other parts of the palace and the halls and windows are likewise adorned with gold.' In this gilded domain, he declared, lived the ruler of an island kingdom called Cipangu (that is, Japan), whose waters yielded red pearls 'very beautiful and round and large.' unmeasured wealth.' Its roof is sheathed in gold 'in such a way as we cover our house with lead.' Even the floors are gold, 'more indeed than two fingers thick. 'I tell you,' wrote Marco Polo, 'that this palace is of.

The million marco polo