Arabia. At a subsequent period, Strabo travelled | king that Strabo engaged in this task, as is sufficiently over Greece, Macedonia, and Italy with the exception proved by his own elaborate introduction. How many of Cisalpine Gaul and Liguria. It is important to years were employed upon it is not certain; but we determine the extent of Strabo's travels, that we may are sure, from the incidental mention made in different know when he speaks as an eyewitness, and when passages of historical events widely distant from each he merely copies the accounts of his predecessors, or other, that it occupied a considerable portion of his gives the narratives of other travellers. At an ad- life. It is impossible, indeed, to read any of his larvanced period of life he compiled a work on Geogra- ger descriptions without feeling the advantages posphy (Tεwyрapiká), in seventeen books, which has come sessed by an eyewitness over a mere compiler. The down to us complete, with the exception of the seventh strong and expressive outlines which he draws conbook, which is imperfect.-It is remarkable that, du- vey a lively idea, not merely of the figure and dimenring a space of near five hundred years, from the time sions, but of the surface and general character, of exof Herodotus to that of Strabo, so little should have tensive districts. These outlines are carefully filled been added to the science of geography. The con- up by a methodical and often minute survey of the quests of the Romans westward did certainly bring whole region, marking distinctly its coasts, its towns, them acquainted with parts of Europe hitherto little rivers, and mountains; the produce of the soil, the known; but in the East, neither the Macedonian nor condition and manners of the inhabitants, their origin, the Roman expeditions seem to have brought much to language, and traffic; and in the more civilized parts light that was before unknown of the state of Asia; of the world, in the states of Greece especially, we while in Africa, as Rennell justly observes, geography meet with continual information respecting persons lost ground. In the course of this period, indeed, and events, the memory of which is sacred to every many writers on this subject appeared; but, whatever one at all conversant with the writers of that extraorwere their merits (and the merits even of the most dinary people. But it is not merely from the number eminent among them seem to be not highly rated by and authenticity of the facts which it communicates Strabo), it is certain that they are all lost. We may that this work derives its value. Every page bears collect, indeed, from a curious circumstance little evidence of a philosophical and reflecting mind; a. known or regarded, that no complete or systematic mind disciplined by science, and accustomed to trace work on geography at that time existed for it appears the causes and connexion of things, as well in the from two or three of Cicero's letters to Atticus, that he province of physical phenomenon, as in the more once entertained thoughts of writing a treatise himself intricate and varying system of human affairs. In on the subject. He was deterred, however, he says, this respect Strabo bears a strong resemblance to whenever he considered it, by the magnitude of the Polybius. But with the fondness of that historian undertaking, and by perceiving how severely even for reflections and his steady love of truth, he has Eratosthenes had been censured by the writers who not copied the formality of his digressions, which succeeded him. In fact, he was probably restrained by so often interrupt the flow of the history, and which a consciousness of his own incompetency in point of would be yet more unsuited in a geographical work. science, of which he makes a pretty broad confession to The reasonings and reflections of Strabo are just those his friend; and whoever values the reputation of Cice- which would naturally be excited in a mind prero cannot regret that it was never risked on a system viously well informed by the scenes over which he of geography, to be got up, as he himself hints it was was travelling; but they never tempt him to lose intended to be, during a short summer tour among his sight of his main purpose, the collection and arcountry-houses in Italy. It is not, however, merely rangement of facts. There is a gravity, a plainness, to the respective character of the two individuals that a sobriety, and good sense in all his remarks, which we must attribute the inferiority of the geography of constantly remind us that they are subordinate and inHerodotus, in all essential requisites, to that of Strabo. cidental, suggested immediately by the occasion; and Much undoubtedly is owing to the manners and com- they are delivered with a tincture of literature, such as plexion of the times in which they respectively lived. a well-educated man cannot fail of imparting to any The former came to the task with few materials sup- subject. On these accounts Strabo would be entitled plied to his hands. Everything was to be collected to the perusal of every scholar, even if the geographiby his own industry, without the aid of previous his- cal information were less abundant and authentic than tory, without political documents or political authori- it really is.-Strabo lived prior to any arrangement of ty. The taste, moreover, and the habits of the people the distances on the globe by measures taken from defor whom he wrote, which must ever have a powerful grees of longitude and latitude. But this writer and influence over the composition of any writer, demanded his predecessor in the same branch of science were other qualities than rigid authenticity, and a judicious not unacquainted with the practice of measuring the selection of facts. It should be remembered that he distance from the equator as from a fixed line, by was hardly yet emerged from the story-telling age; which the comparatively northerly or southerly situathe pleasure of wondering had not yet been superse- tions of places might be determined; nor were they ded by the pleasure of knowing; and the nine deities ignorant of some methods by which the longitude or who give name to his books might be allowed to im- distance of places to the east or west of each other part some share of their privilege of fiction, when- might be estimated. But it was reserved for Ptolemy ever sober truth has been insufficient to complete or to reduce these observations into a regular system and adorn his narrativę. Before the age of Augustus, to a tabular form, by which the situation of any one however, an entire revolution had been effected in the place, if correctly ascertained, might be compared with intellectual habits and literary pursuits of men. The that of any other, and also with its distance from the world had become in a manner, what it now is, a read- equator and from the first meridian, drawn through ing world. Books of every kind were to be had in Ferro, in the Canary or Fortunate Islands, as being every place. Accordingly, it became the chief busi- the most westerly point of the earth known at that ness of writers who projected any extensive work, to time.-The ancient astronomers and geographers could examine and compare what had been already written; not but be conscious how defective were their instruto weigh probabilities; to adjust and reconcile apparent ments for observing the heavenly bodies; and how difficulties; and to decide between contending authori- much greater dependance might be placed on their ties, as well as to collect and methodise a multitude mechanical measurement of distances, to the accuracy of independent facts, and to mould them into one reg- of which we have reason to think they paid great atular and consistent form. It was not without a just tention, than on their celestial observations, to ascersense of the magnitude and difficulty of the underta- tain the truth of which they had so little artificial as STRABO. sistance. The proportion of the length of the gnomon | as to support the authority of the fables related by t to that of its meridian shadow at the solstice and the bard. After Homer, Strabo passes in review the war equinoxes, afforded the principal method of determin- of Anaximander, Hecatæus, Democritus, and Eudors ing the distance of places from the equator, and these of Cnidus: he commends the latter for his mathematics were, indeed, under a clear sky, a bright sun, and con- acquirements and for everything he relates concern tinued opportunities of repeating observations, laid Greece, while he censures him for being fabulous in down, in many instances, more nearly to the truth account of the Scythians. He names Dicearchus among than could be expected from so simple and so rude an the writers that have treated of general geography, instrument. Still, however, they were liable to great whereas we merely know that he wrote the Bior uncertainty. The penumbra at the extremity of the doc. Strabo ends his list of ancient geographers má shadow made the proportions doubtful. The semi-di-Ephorus of Cuma; Eratosthenes, Hipparchus, Pe ameter of the sun (although Cleomedes seemed to be lybius, and Posidonius forming the class of modem aware that this should be taken into the account) ones. His criticism on the first two books of Eratos does not appear to be added to the altitude, and the thenes furnishes him with an opportunity of ind circumstances, less important, indeed, though not to in some researches relative to the adventures of L be neglected, of parallax and refraction, were altogeth- ses as given by Homer, the degree of acquaintance er unknown. Instances of the incorrectness of gno- which the poet had with Egypt, and also the reve monic or sciothenic observations may be given, too tions which the surface of the earth has undergone.— gross to be ascribed to any of these defects, and evi- In the second book Strabo continues his criticism Strabo the work of Eratosthenes, and takes up the th dently owing to inaccuracy in the observers. He then proceeds to an mentions, in no less than four places, that the same book of that production. He makes many corrections proportion of the length of the gnomon to its solstitial on Hipparchus, and defends Eratosthenes shadow was found at Byzantium and at Marseilles, many unjust criticisms. though the former was situated in 41° 11', and the amination of the works of Posidonius and Poly other in 43° 17′ of latitude, a difference of no less The remainder of the book treats of the knowledg than 136' on the equator, equal to 158 English miles; requisite for a geographer, and particularly that of a and this fact is reported on the authority of Hippar- mathematical nature: he then treats of the figure d chus and Eratosthenes, in a case, too, which was ob- the earth, its general divisions and climates. He vious to the senses, and depended neither on hypothesis states that the earth has the form of a globe, a, nor calculation. It is more extraordinary that this mis- rather, seems to have such a form. The batt take, after being adopted by Ptolemy, should be con- portion of the earth resembles, according to him, a tinued down to ages not very remote from our own. chlamys or military cloak; it is contained betwee A still greater error is to be found in Strabo respecting two parallels, one of which passes through le the situation of Carthage. He says that the propor- Ireland, and the other through what is now the sand tion of the length of the gnomon to that of the equi- of Ceylon. The earth is immoveable and in the c This gives by tre of the universe. The length of the earth from the noctial shadow is as eleven to seven. plane trigonometry a latitude of 32° 20', which is equator to the north is 38,100 stadia, that of the ha very near to the one adopted by Ptolemy. The true itable world 29,000. The breadth is about 70,000 latitude of Carthage, according to the best observa- stadia. The Caspian Sea is a gulf. The Secr tions, is 36° 5'.The error, therefore, is 272', or 313 Promontorium (Cape St. Vincent) is the most wesidiEnglish miles. These, and other remarks which might ly point of Europe.—With the third book comme be here made, tend fully to show, that the ancient ge- the chorographical part. Spain is the first country ographers are more deserving of praise when they ex- occupies Strabo's attention; he first describes Beut press distances by measurements, in the correctness then Lusitania and the northern coast as far as the of which they excelled, than when they give them by Pyrenees, then the southern coast from the Co calculations or observations, the principles of which of Hercules to the same range, and, finally, the sands they understood, but had not the means of reducing to in the neighbourhood of Spain, the Baleares, Gases, practice. (Quarterly Review, vol. 5, p. 274, seqq.) and the Cassiterides. In giving the description But to return more immediately to Strabo. A cir- this country. Strabo follows three writers who had cumstance which cannot fail to surprise us is the lit- travelled in it. The first of these is Artemiderus, tle success with which Strabo's work appears to have who boasted of having pushed his way as far met among the ancients, as far, at least, as we may Gades, although the account which he gives of the infer from the silence which their writers for the most phenomena that there attended the setting of the part preserve in relation to his labours. Marcianus of does not seem to indicate one who had observed them Heraclea, Athenæus, and Harpocration are the only himself: this traveller was very exact in his determ ancient authors that cite him. Pliny and Pausanias nation of distances. do not even appear to have been acquainted with him Strabo derived his information concerning Spain, ind by name. Josephus and Plutarch make mention of his principal guide in this book, is Posidonius The Strabo, but it is only to speak of his Historical Me- third is Polybius. Strabo, however, notes the changes moirs. The celebrity of Strabo dates from the middle which had taken place since the period of the ages: it was then so universal, that the custom arose mentioned writer. Independently of these three t of designating him by the simple title of " the Geog- thorities, our geographer cites Ephorus, Eratosthenes, rapher."-The Geography of Strabo consists of two Timosthenes, Asclepiades of Myrlea, and Athenado parts; the first, cosmographical, giving a description rus.-The fourth book is taken up with the descrip of the world, and comprising the first and second tion of Gaul, Britain, Ireland, Thule, and the A books; the second, chorographical, furnishing a de- After having treated of the four grand divisions of tailed account of particular countries. This latter part Gaul, Narbonensis, Aquitania, Lugdunensis, and Belteenth book; and thus consists of fifteen books, of try and its inhabitants. The Alps afford him an op which eight are devoted to Europe, six to Asia, and portunity of treating of the Ligurians, Salyes, Rha one to Africa.-The first book of the Geography of Vindelicii, Taurisci, and other inhabitants of these Strabo contains the general introduction to the work. mountains. For his description of Gaul Strabo could In it the author shows the importance and utility of easily obtain information from persons who had filled On this occasion he treats of public offices in that country (for in his day this co the extent of Homer's geographical knowledge, and de- try was completly subject to the Romans), as well as commences with the third and ends with the seven-gica, Strabo gives some geographical studies. The second source whence general details on this cous fends him against his detractors, even to such a degree from those who had traded thither. In other respects 1264 Cæsar was his principal guide, especially in the de- rus, and Hypsicrates of Amisa are only cited for isoscription of the Silva Arduenna, and the account of lated facts. The two latter appear to have left histothe manners and customs of the Germans in general.ries of the war with Mithradates. Illyricum is one of He makes use, also, of the same geographers that had the countries which Strabo himself traversed.-From aided him in the third book. For example, his de- what he says on the subject, we see that in Aristotle's scription of the Rhone and Isere, of their embou- work on Governments, the constitutions of Acarnania, chures, and of the countries lying between these rivers, Megaris, Ætolia, and Opuntia were, among others, appears to be taken from Artemidorus. In the de- considered. Polybius and Posidonius have supplied scription of Gallia Narbonensis, of which Cæsar does Strabo with his materials for these regions; Theonot treat, Polybius is his authority. In what relates pompus and Ephorus were his guides in Epirus, and to the ancient constitution of Massilia (Marseille) he Philochorus in what relates to Dodona. He cites, also, has followed Polybius, or perhaps Aristotle's work on a certain Cineas; but whatever he drew from this otherGovernments. Strabo, it is true, does not cite the wise unknown author has perished with the end of the latter writer on this occasion, but we see from another book.-The eighth book, and the two immediately folpassage that he had consulted his work. (Strabo, lowing, contain Greece in general, and the Peloponne321.) The other accounts that he gives respecting sus in particular. In the description of Greece, StraMassilia are obtained from travellers with whom bo takes the Homeric poems for a basis. In the choStrabo was personally acquainted. He gives the nar-rographical part he consults also Ephorus and Polybrative of Timagenes, according to whom the treasure ius; in the physical part, Posidonius and Hipparchus; which Cæpio found at Tolosa made part of the plun- in the description of bays and harbours, Artemidorus der which the Tectosages had carried off from Delphi. and Timosthenes; and, in addition to all this, draws With respect to Britain, the description of which fol- largely on his own information as a traveller in this lows that of Gaul, as this country was not yet sub-country. Passing on to the description of Elis, he jected to the Romans, Strabo had no other sources of cites, for the fabulous ages, Homer and his commeninformation than the fifth book of Cæsar's Commentators, Apollodorus, and Demetrius of Scepsis, as well taries, and the verbal accounts of travellers. He as the other early poets; he relies principally, however, confesses, also, that he has but scanty materials for Ire- upon Ephorus. The other writers consulted by him land. In speaking of Thule, he makes mention of for his account of the Peloponnesus are Philochorus, Pytheas, whom he unjustly considers as a writer deal- Callisthenes, Hellanicus, Demetrius of Scepsis, Theoing altogether in fable. For the description of the pompus, Thucydides, and Aristotle. What he says of Alps, and of their inhabitants, which terminates the the Achæan league is taken from Polybius. The disfourth book, his authority was Polybius.-The fifth tances between places are obtained from Artemidorus and sixth books are devoted to Italy. The sixth ends and Eratosthenes. In the ninth book he describes with a survey of the Roman power. With the ex- Megaris, Attica, Boeotia, Phocis, Locris, and Thessaception of Cisalpine Gaul and Liguria, Strabo knewly, as well as Hellas, properly so called. The dimenItaly from personal observation. Polybius is his prin- sions of Attica are taken from Eudoxus, the mathemacipal guide among the writers whom he cites, partic- tician; its history from the Atthidographi, among whom ularly for Cisalpine Gaul: in his description of Ligu- he cites Philochorus and Andron. He has consulted, ria he quotes also from Posidonius. What he says also, the memoirs of Demetrius Phalereus, for the purrespecting the origin of the Etrurians is found in He-pose of learning the condition of Attica during the time rodotus: his account of the early kings of Rome is of that individual. For Boeotia, Locris, and Phocis, probably abridged from Dionysius of Halicarnassus. Ephorus and others have been his authorities. What In treating of the Etrurians, he makes a digression he gives respecting Thessaly is a kind of commentary concerning the Pelasgi, and cites Ephorus, Anticlides, on those passages in Homer where mention is made of and others. For the description of Etruria he has con- the Thessalians.-The tenth book is occupied with the sulted Polybius, Eratosthenes, and Artemidorus. In rest of Greece; Euboea, Arcarnania, Ætolia, Crete, giving the dimensions of Corsica and Sardinia, he re- the Cyclades, Sporades, &c. For the antiquities of fers, for the first time, to an author whom he merely Euboea, Homer and his commentators have been concites under the title of a Chorographer," but whom sulted; for its history, Theopompus and Aristotle. he distinguishes from Eratosthenes, Polybius, and Ar- When he treats of Acarnania and Etolia, he follows temidorus. This is a Roman writer, for his measure- Homer and another epic poet, probably a Cyclic bard, ments are not in stadia, but in miles; and perhaps he is who had composed an Alcmeonid, which Ephorus had the same with the Agrippa who prepared a description under his eyes. His other sources of information of the Roman empire, which Augustus caused to be were Apollodorus, Demetrius of Scepsis, and Artemiplaced in the portico commenced by his sister. (Plin., dorus. Before passing to Crete, Strabo makes a long 3, 2.) Fabius Pictor and Cæcilius are his authorities digression respecting the Curetes. Among the crowd for what he says respecting the origin of the Romans; of writers who had treated of the subject, he distinand for the rest of Central Italy and Magna Græcia, guishes Demetrius of Scepsis, from whom he appears he follows Polybius, Artemidorus, Ephorus, Timæus, to have derived the account that he gives respecting Apollodorus, but, above all, Antiochus of Syracuse. the religious ceremonies of the Cretans; he refers, also, For Sicily he cites Posidonius, Artemidorus, Ephorus, to Archemachus of Euboea, an historian of an unknown and Timæus.—The seventh book commences with a epoch, cited frequently by Athenæus, to Pherecydes of description of the countries situate along the Ister or Scyros, Acusilas of Argos, who gave a prose translaDanube, and inhabited by the Germans, Cimbri, Getæ, tion of the poetry of Hesiod, and to Stesimbrotus of and Tauri: it then proceeds to notice the regions be- Thasos. For the description of Crete his principal autween this river, the Euxine, the Adriatic, Illyricum, thority was Sosicrates. He names also Eudoxus, Arand Epirus. The chapters on Thrace and Macedonia temidorus, Hieronymus of Cardia, and Staphylus of are lost. Here Strabo was unable to procure as good Naucratis. What relates to the government of Crete authorities as in the preceding books, and he himself is taken from Ephorus. The account of the islands of confesses that he was wandering in the dark. Strabo the Egean is the result of Strabo's own observations. seems to have had under his eyes an historian who -The eleventh book begins the description of Asia. treated of the wars between the Romans and Ger- Strabo bounds this part of the world by the Tanais, mans, and who was subsequent to Cæsar. The name the Ocean, and what is now the Isthmus of Suez; but of this writer appears to have been Asinius. All that he believed it to be much less extensive than it is in reStrabo relates concerning the Cimbri is taken from ality. He was unacquainted with the vast regions of Posidonius; for Ephorus the grammarian, Apollodo- Asiatic Russia, and with those of Central Asia occu pied by Tartar and Mongul tribes: he knew merely a | for the different theories among the ancients respect portion of Southern Asia. What he states respecting ing the origin of the Trojans. In the fourteenth book the shores of the Palus Mæotis and Eaxine, is drawn, Strabo is still occupied with Asia Minor; he describes for the most part, if not altogether, from the narra- Ionia, with the islands of Samos and Chios; the Ish tives of travellers; perhaps, also, from his own per- of Rhodes, Caria, Lycia, Pamphylia, Cilicia, and the sonal observations. For the measurement of distan- isle of Cyprus. The ancient history of Ionia is taken ces he follows Artemidorus. In relation to Iberia and from Pherecydes of Scyros, and the poets, such as Albania, Strabo consulted, besides Artemidorus, the Mimnermus and Hipponax. On the subject of the historians of the Mithradatic war, of whom Theophanes founding of Miletus, our author consulted Ephorus ; and Posidonius were the two principal ones. To these and, as regards the colonies planted by this city, Asmust be added Metrodorus of Scepsis, and Hypsicrates aximines of Lampsacus. The history of Polycrates of Amisa. From the latter is taken the digression re-is taken from Herodotus; that of the Athenian expe specting the Amazons. In his description of the Caspi-dition to Samos, from Thucydides. In the accom an Sea, Strabo has followed very bad guides. His prej-of the early history of Ephesus, Artemidorus is foller udice against Herodotus prevented him from following ed; in the case of the other cities, Pherecydes of that historian, who knew very well that the Caspian is a Scyros, and Ephorus, as well as the poets. The lake, and who gives its dimensions with tolerable accu-tory of the kingdom of Pergamus, and of the attempt racy. The opinion which made it a gulf of the North- of Aristonicus, is taken, very probably, from Posido ern Ocean originated very probably with the followers nius. Strabo had himself visited these countries and of Alexander, who were either deceived as to its na- collected materials; the same was the case with ture, or misled by national vanity. The chief author Rhodes. For Caria he obtained accounts from the of Strabo's mistake relative to the Caspian appears grammarian Apollodorus; but especially from a ce to have been Patroclus, the admiral of Seleucus and tain Philip, who had written a history of the ey Antiochus. Pliny states that this navigator entered times of Caria. The authority for Lycia was proba into the Northern Ocean by the way of the Caspian bly Artemidorus, whom Strabo cites for distances. Sea; but Strabo corrects Pliny's error, by making What he states respecting Cilicia, and of the grat Patroclus merely conjecture that one might sail by this number of slaves sent from that country to the slave route to India. The description of Hyrcania and market at Delos, in order to supply the Roman de the neighbouring countries is taken from Patroclus, mand for this unfortunate class of beings, appears a Eratosthenes, Aristobulus, and Polycletus; that of have been extracted from Posidonius. It is certam, the Massagetæ from Herodotus; that of Bactriana at least, that the writer from whom Strabo obtained from Eratosthenes. For Parthia, Strabo's authority these particulars was subsequent to the war of Par was Apollodorus of Artemis, whom we know merely pey with the pirates. Strabo then engages in a dis through the medium of the geographer, but who would cussion against the grammarian Apollodorus, who, a seem to have lived only a short time before him, since cording to him, had misunderstood both Homer ad he had written the history of the war between the Ro- Ephorus in many things relating to Asia Minor. Ia mans and Parthians. An extract from the same his- the description of Cyprus he corrects Damaster and torian, on the kingdom of Bactria, is almost all the in- Eratosthenes, on the authority, probably, of Artem formation that is given us respecting this state. The dorus. In the fifteenth book Strabo commences exact ideas which Strabo has in relation to the Oxus description of Asia beyond Taurus, or Southern Asa; and laxartes are owing to Patroclus; the fables re- this book is devoted to India and Persia. Here specting the Derbices, Caspii, and Hyrcanii are found author describes regions which he never saw. He in Herodotus. For the description of Media he cites himself acknowledges that all that was known in s Apollonides, and especially Q. Dellius, the friend and day respecting India was full of obscurity and co companion of Marc Antony, whom Plutarch mentions diction. His own idea, too, concerning the shape of in his life of the triumvir. In place of Q. Dellius, this country, is altogether false; he represents it some editions of Strabo have the corrupt reading Adel-rhomboid, the northern and southern sides of which phius.—In the twelfth book commences the description measured 3000 stadia (nearly 115 leagues) more than of Asia Minor. Here Strabo finds himself in the the eastern and western. He had, consequently, 19 country of his youth, and relates much that he him- knowledge whatever of the peninsula of Decan self had seen. As regards the earlier periods, he re- the whole of India he was only acquainted with three lies on the authority of Hellanicus, Ephorus, Theo- cities: Taxila, Patala, and Palibothra. If, however, pompus, the historians of the Mithradatic wars, and the geographical information relative to this counter particularly Theophanes. When treating of the Mys- be meager and unsatisfactory, the deficiency ians, to whom some writers join the Lydians, he some degree, compensated by the very full acco speaks of Xanthus the Lydian, and of Menecrates of that is given of the manners and institutions of the Elea, his contemporary, who had written an E22no- people. Besides Eratosthenes, who is his principal TоντIакN πεрíodos, and a work on the origin of cities guide, Strabo has derived much information from the (TEρì KTίGEWV). In the thirteenth book Strabo returns historians of Alexander and his successors, particulartowards the Propontis, and describes the seacoast from ly Patroclus and Aristobulus, whom he corsers Cyzicus to Cumæ, comprehending the Troad and Eo- most worthy of reliance; after them he ranks Megas lis. To this he adds an account of Lesbos, which lies thenes and Nearchus: he gives little credit to Orest opposite. From thence, turning towards the interior, ritus, Daimachus, and Clitarchus. In treating of the he stops by the way at the cities of Pergamus, Sardis, course of the Ganges, he gives the opinion of Artem Hierapolis, and some others. In his description of dorus: he cites the account given by Nicolaus Dams the Troad, Homer is Strabo's first and leading author- cenus of his interview with the ambassadors sent from ity; the commentators on the poet, namely, Eudoxus Taprobana to Augustus: he quotes, also, a certa of Cnidus, Damastes of Sigæum, Charon of Lampsa- Megillus, who had written on the culture of re cus, Scylax, and Ephorus, occupy the second rank. After India, Strabo describes the Empire of Persis. To these must be added Callisthenes, and a writer He comprehends, under the name of Ariana, the prov born in this country, Demetrius of Scepsis, who had inces situate between the Indus and a line drawn written thirty books on sixty verses of the Iliad. from the Caspian Gates (Pyle Caspia) to the embos From this author is taken the story about Aristotle's chure of the Persian Gulf. In his description of the library. (Vid. Scepsis.) Ephorus, Thucydides, and coasts of Persia he follows Nearchus and Onesiertas Artemidorus are cited for distances; Lycurgus the and with regard to the countries in the interior, be re orator, Hellanicus, and Menecrates are the authorities marks, that he has nothing more to say respecting - them than Eratosthenes had, who himself derived his | known, who had treated of the botany of Libya. Alown information from the historians of Alexander. though, in treating of Mauritania, he makes mention of For the dimensions of the country he cites Bæton the two Jubas, he does not seem to have been acquaintand Diognetes. His authorities for the descriptioned with the work of the younger on Africa; for, had of Persia Proper (or Persis) are Eratosthenes and he known it, he would certainly have furnished us with Polyclitus his account of Persepolis and Pasargada many interesting selections relative to the interior of is borrowed from Aristobulus, and is found also in the country.-There exists an abridgment or ChrestomArrian. In speaking of the worship of fire, he gives athy of the entire work of Strabo, made subsequentus to understand that he has been an eyewitness of the ly to A.D. 980, by which the text of the main work ceremony, since he remarks that Cappadocia, a prov- has often been corrected, the latter having come to us ince over which he had travelled, contained many Ma- in a very corrupt state. Besides the Chrestomathy, gi, or worshippers of fire (úpaio). The remainder several collections of extracts from Strabo have reachof his account of Persian manners is taken from He- ed our time: they are still in manuscript, and to be rodotus and Xenophon. The sixteenth book termi- found in European libraries. By the help of these, the nates the account of Asia: it contains a description text of the large work might be still farther corrected. of Assyria, a name under which Strabo, besides Adia- -Strabo wrote also an historical work, a continuation bene, comprehends also Babylonia and Mesopotamia; of Polybius, which he himself cites under the title of to this succeeds an account of Syria, together with 'Youvμara loropiká (Historical Memoirs). These Phoenicia and Palestine; and last of all comes Arabia. memoirs were carried down a little farther, it would The description of Aturia, or the Assyrian province in seem, than the continuation of the same historian made which was situate the city of Ninus, is taken from an by Posidonius; for it appears from Plutarch that the historian of Alexander, who, together with Herodotus, death of Cæsar was mentioned in them.-Among the Polyclitus, and Eratosthenes, has also been his author- most useful editions of Strabo may be mentioned that ity for Babylonia. What he states concerning the of Casaubon, Genev., 1587, fol., reprinted at Paris by Parthian empire is probably taken from Posidonius; Morel, after the death of Casaubon, 1620, fol.; that of for mention is made, in the course of it, of the war Almeloveen, Amst., 1708, fol., which is a reprint of waged by Pompey against Tigranes. The account Casaubon's, enriched with notes from various scholars; which he gives of the stone dikes, by which the As-that of Siebenkees, continued by Tzschucke, and afsyrians had fettered the navigation of the Tigris, is ter him by Friedemann, but never completed, Lips., found also in Arrian, and appears to have been bor- 1796-1818, 7 vols. 8vo; and that of Coray, Paris, rowed from Aristobulus and Nearchus. The picture 1816-19, 4 vols. 8vo. This last contains the best of Babylonian manners is traced after the original Greek text: it has no Latin version, but is accompadrawn by Herodotus, and also after that of Posidonius.nied by an excellent commentary and several tables. Strabo had travelled in Syria, and therefore speaks of The Oxford edition of Strabo, by Falconer, 1507, 2 it as an eyewitness. He gives the distances accord-vols. fol., is a beautiful specimen of typography, but a ing to Eratosthenes and Artemidorus; in the history of the Seleucida he follows Posidonius. We find here a remarkable passage respecting Moses and the Jews, taken from some author who wrote after the capture of Jerusalem by Pompey.-What Strabo mentions under the head of Arabia is taken from Eratosthenes, with the exception of the account that is given of the western part of the country; this appears to have been drawn from Artemidorus, who had himself copied it from Agatharchidas. The book concludes with accounts derived by Strabo from conversations with travellers, particularly with the Stoic philosopher, Athenodorus of Tarsus, the friend and preceptor of Augustus, who had visited Petra, the chief city of the Nabathæi, and in company with Elius Gallus, with STRATO, I. a philosopher of Lampsacus, disciple whom Strabo became acquainted in Egypt.-The sev- and successor in the school of Theophrastus, or the enteenth and last book comprehends Egypt, Ethiopia, peripatetic school, of which he took charge B.C. 286, and Libya, which we call Africa, and which comprised and who continued over it for eighteen years, with a under the name of Libya the countries of Cyrenaica, high reputation for learning and eloquence. Ptolemy Mauritania, and the territories of Carthage. The di- Philadelphus made him his preceptor, and repaid his vision of the Roman empire into provinces terminates services with a royal present of eighty talents. In the work. What Strabo relates concerning the Nile his opinion concerning matter, Strato departed essenis obtained from Eratosthenes, Eudoxus, and Ariston. tially from the system both of Plato and Aristotle, Strabo, moreover, was personally acquainted with the and he is said to have nearly approached that system course of the stream as far as the Cataracts. His ac- of atheism which excludes the deity from the formacount of the Ptolemies is based upon the testimony of tion of the world. Cicero states that this philosopher Polybius, and in part, very probably, upon his contin- conceived all Divine power to be seated in nature, uator, Posidonius. In the narrative of Alexander's which possesses the causes of production, increase, march across the desert to the oracle of Ammon, Stra- and diminution, but is wholly destitute of sensation bo follows Callisthenes and the other companions of and figure. He taught, also, that the seat of the soul the prince. The recital of Petronius, who, during the is in the middle of the brain, and that it only acts by reign of Augustus, carried on war against the Ethio-means of the senses. (Enfield's History of Philosopians, the work of Agatharchidas, and the history of phy, vol. 1, p. 295, seq.)-II. A physician of BeryHerodotus, are the sources whence he draws his ma- tus, a pupil of Erasistratus, and, like him, a deterterials for an account of the countries lying to the mined enemy to bleeding. He became the head of south of Egypt. With regard to Libya, and particu- a school. (Schöll, Hist. Lit, Gr., vol. 3, p. 408.)— larly the Oases and the temple of Ammon, he takes III. A licentious poet, a native of Sardis. Many epi Eratosthenes for his guide, and for the distances, Ar- grams of his are preserved in the Greek Anthology temidorus; while for the historical portion, Posido-(Schöll, Hist. Lit. Gr., vol. 4, p. 56.) nius, in all likelihood, served as authority. He cites STRATON. Vid. Strato. also Timosthenes and Iphicrates, writers otherwise un very unfortunate model of accurate scholarship: it is noted also for having given rise to an angry controversy between the Edinburgh Review and some of the scholars of England.-The French translation of Strabo, undertaken at the command of government, and executed by Du Theil and Coray, enjoys a high reputation. The translation, with the critical and historical notes, was assigned to the two scholars just named; and M. Gossellin had charge of the formation of the maps and the geographical illustrations. It appeared during 1805-20, and is in 5 vols. 4to. An able review of it is given in the London Quarterly, vol. 5, p. 273, seqq. (Schöll, Hist. Lit. Gr., vol. 5, p. 278, seqq.) STRATONICE, wife of Antiochus I. (Soter), king of |