The Geography of Strabo, Vol. III (Loeb)

A complete list of Loeb titles can be found at the end of each volume.

STRABO (64–63 B.C.—c. A.D. 25), an Asiatic Greek from Amasia in Pontus, studied at Nysa and, after 44 B.C., at Rome and possibly at Alexandria. He became a keen traveler who saw a large part of Italy, various Near Eastern regions including the Black Sea, various parts of Asia Minor, and Egypt as far as Ethiopia, as well as parts of Greece. He spent a long time in Alexandria, where he undoubtedly studied mathematics, astronomy, and the associated authors, as well as history. His earlier historical work is lost, but his most important work, the Geography (in 17 books), has survived.

After two introductory books, numbers 3 and 4 deal with Spain and Gaul, 5 and 6 with Italy and Sicily, 7 with North and East Europe, 8–10 with Greek lands, 11–14 with the main regions of Asia and Asia Minor, 15 with India and Iran, 16 with Assyria, Babylonia, Syria, and Arabia, and 17 with Egypt and Africa. In outline, he follows the great mathematical geographer Eratosthenes, but he adds general descriptions of individual countries, including physical, political, and historical details. A sequel to his historical memoirs, this work is planned apparently for public servants rather than...

Continued on back flap