The Black Sea in Ptolemy’s Geography: from Measuring Latitudes and Distances to Creating a Map
https://doi.org/10.31857/S2587-556620194125-136
Abstract
The configuration of the Black Sea in Ptolemy’s Geography is compared with the information of other ancient geographers. It is demonstrated that their data on the length of the coastlines between the key points match with high accuracy, implying that they drew on similar sources. A possible explanation of numerous disagreements between their data on distances between neighbouring coastal points is suggested. It is shown that the shortening of the west coast of the Black Sea in Ptolemy’s Geography relative to the reports of other geographers was due to his erroneous value of the circumference of the Earth. In general, Ptolemy’s configuration of the Black Sea is explained as a result of merging together contradictory information on the length of coastlines and the latitudes of the key points provided by his sources. These findings contribute to a better understanding of Ptolemy’s method of map-making.
Keywords
history of geography,
history of cartography,
ancient geography,
Claudius Ptolemy,
Ptolemy’s map,
measurement of the circumference of the Earth,
Black Sea,
Periplus of the Pontus Euxinus
Supporting agencies: The work was supported by the Russian Foundation for Basic Research, project no. 18- 011-00258 (“Development of comparative analysis methods for fundamental cartographic works of the past”).
About the Author
D. A. Shcheglov
St. Petersburg Branch of the S.I. Vavilov Institute for the History of Science and Technology RAS
Russian Federation
Russian Federation
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- Ptolemy’s Geography drew on the measurements of the Black Sea coastline length and the latitudes of the key points.
- Ptolemy’s and the other authors’ data on the coastline length between the key points are in good agreement.
- The effect of Ptolemy’s erroneous assessment of the circumference of the Earth on the Black Sea outlines.
Review
For citations:
Shcheglov D.A. The Black Sea in Ptolemy’s Geography: from Measuring Latitudes and Distances to Creating a Map. Izvestiya Rossiiskoi Akademii Nauk. Seriya Geograficheskaya. 2019;(4):125-136. (In Russ.) https://doi.org/10.31857/S2587-556620194125-136
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