aleator classicus

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Strabo, Geography 1.1.8

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ὅτι δὲ ἡ οἰκουμένη νῆσός ἐστι, πρῶτον μὲν ἐκ τῆς αἰσθήσεως καὶ τῆς πείρας ληπτέον· πανταχῆ γάρ, ὁπουποτοῦν ἐφικτὸν γέγονεν ἀνθρώποις ἐπὶ τὰ ἔσχατα τῆς γῆς προελθεῖν, εὑρίσκεται θάλαττα, ἣν δὴ καλοῦμεν Ὠκεανόν.

The fact that the inhabited world is an island can be grasped first by perception and also by experience. For in every single place where it has been possible for people to come to the furthest parts of the earth, sea has been found – which we call ‘Ocean‘.

Written by aleatorclassicus

June 21, 2013 at 12:00 PM

Posted in Strabo

Strabo, Geography 17.6

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The great lighthouse of Alexandria, on the island called Pharos.

ἔστι δὲ καὶ αὐτὸ τὸ τῆς νησῖδος ἄκρον πέτρα περίκλυστος, ἔχουσα πύργον θαυμαστῶς κατεσκευασμένον λευκοῦ λίθου πολυώροφον, ὁμώνυμον τῇ νήσῳ· τοῦτον δ’ ἀνέθηκε Σώστρατος Κνίδιος, φίλος τῶν βασιλέων, τῆς τῶν πλοιζομένων σωτηρίας χάριν, ὥς φησιν ἡ ἐπιγραφή.

At the end of this island lies a rock surrounded by sea, on which there is a tower, many storeys high and marvellously fitted out in white stone, called by the same name as the island. Sostratus of Cnidus, who was a friend of the kings, built this tower to keep sailors safe, as the inscription says.

Written by aleatorclassicus

November 8, 2012 at 12:00 PM

Posted in Strabo