Ptolemy's Geography

by Berggren, J. L.; Jones, Alexander

• ISBN13: 9780691010427
• ISBN10: 0691010420
• Format: Hardcover
• Copyright: 2000-10-01
• Publisher: Princeton Univ Pr

Summary

Ptolemy's Geography is the only book on cartography to have survived from the classical period and one of the most influential scientific works of all time. Written in the second century AD, for more than fifteen centuries it was the most detailed topography of Europe and Asia available and the best reference on how to gather data and draw maps. Ptolemy championed the use of astronomical observation and applied mathematics in determining geographical locations. But more importantly, he introduced the practice of writing down coordinates of latitude and longitude for every feature drawn on a world map, so that someone else possessing only the text of the Geography could reproduce Ptolemy's map at any time, in whole or in part, at any scale.Here Berggren and Jones render an exemplary translation of the Geography and provide a thorough introduction, which treats the historical and technical background of Ptolemy's work, the contents of the Geography, and the later history of the work. Also included here are unique color reproductions of maps from manuscripts and early printed editions of the text, representative of the beautiful and practical cartographic artistry that flowed from Ptolemy's work. Historians of science, classicists, and anyone who enjoys beautiful maps or map making will find this work an indispensable addition to their library.

Author Biography

Alexander Jones is Professor of Classics and of the History and Philosophy of Science at the University of Toronto.

Table of Contents

List of Illustrations	ix
Preface	xi
Note on Citations of Classical Authors	xiii
Introduction	3	(2)
What Ptolemy Expected His Reader to Know	5	(12)
The Place of the Geography in Ptolemy's Work	17	(3)
Ptolemy's Evolving Conception of the World	20	(3)
Marinos and Other Sources	23	(8)
Ptolemy's Map Projections and Coordinate Lists	31	(10)
The Manuscripts of the Geography	41	(4)
The Maps in the Manuscripts	45	(5)
Early Readers and Translators	50	(2)
Modern Editions and Translations of the Geography	52	(1)
Our Translation	53	(130)
Ptolemy, Guide to Drawing a Map of the World
Book 1	57	(37)
Book 2	94	(14)
Book 7	108	(10)
Book 8	118	(7)
Plates and Maps
Notes on the Plates and Maps	125	(3)
Plates 1-7	128	(1)
Maps 1-8	129	(16)
Appendices
Appendix A: The Journeys of Flaccus and Maternus to the Aithiopians	145	(3)
Appendix B: Marinos' Calculation of the Latitude of Cape Prason	148	(2)
Appendix C: The Trade Route across Central Asia	150	(3)
Appendix D: The Breadth of the Mediterranean According to Marinos and Ptolemy	153	(2)
Appendix E: The Sail to Kattigara	155	(2)
Appendix F: The Miscellaneous Criticisms of Marinos' Data	157	(6)
Appendix G: Textual Notes	163	(5)
Appendix H: Geographical Index	168	(15)
Bibliography	183	(6)
Index	189