Strabo, Geography, Hans Claude Hamilton (Translator), William Falconer (Translator), 16.3.2

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[2] The Persian Gulf has the name also of the Sea of Persia. Eratosthenes speaks of it in this manner: “They say that the mouth is so narrow, that from Harmozi,¹ the promontory of Carmania, may be seen the promontory at Mace, in Arabia. From the mouth, the coast on the right hand is circular, and at first inclines a little from Carmania towards the east, then to the north, and afterwards to the west as far as Teredon and the mouth of the Euphrates.² In an extent of about 10,000 stadia, it comprises the coast of the Carmanians, Persians, and Susians, and in part of the Babylonians. (Of these we ourselves have before spoken.) Hence directly as far as the mouth are 10,000 stadia more, according, it is said, to the computation of Androsthenes of Thasos, who not only had accompanied Nearchus, but had also alone sailed along the seacoast of Arabia.³ It is hence evident that this sea is little inferior in size to the Euxine.

“He says that Androsthenes, who had navigated the gulf with a fleet, relates, that in sailing from Teredon with the continent on the right hand, an island Icaros⁴ is met with, lying in front, which contained a temple sacred to Apollo, and an oracle of [Diana] Tauropolus.

Geography. Strabo. Hans Claude Hamilton (Translator), William Falconer (Translator). London. 1854-1857.

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Current edition Perseus

Geography (English) (Strabo. The Geography of Strabo, Vols. 1-3. Hamilton, Hans Claude, translator; Falconer, William, translator. London: Henry G. Bohn, 1854-1857.)

Editions (1)

Γεωγραφικά Perseus (Strabo. Strabonis Geographica, Vols. 1-3. Meineke, August, editor. Leipzig: Teubner. 1877.) — 16.3.2 focus

[2] ̔ο μὲν οὖν Περσικὸς κόλπος λέγεται καὶ ἡ κατὰ Πέρσας θάλαττα. φησὶ δὲ περὶ αὐτῆς Ἐρατοσθένης οὕτως, ὅτι τὸ μὲν στόμα φησὶν εἶναι στενὸν οὕτως ὥστʼ ἐξ Ἁρμόζοντος, τῆς Καρμανίας ἀκρωτηρίου, τῆς Ἀραβίας ἀφορᾶται τὸ ἐν Μάκαις· ἀπὸ δὲ τοῦ στόματος ἡ ἐν δεξιᾷ παραλία περιφερὴς οὖσα κατʼ ἀρχὰς μὲν ἀπὸ τῆς Καρμανίας πρὸς ἕω μικρόν, εἶτα πρὸς ἄρκτον νεύει, καὶ μετὰ ταῦτα πρὸς τὴν ἑσπέραν μέχρι Τερηδόνος καὶ τῆς ἐκβολῆς τοῦ Εὐφράτου· περιέχει δὲ τήν τε Καρμανίων παραλίαν καὶ τὴν Περσῶν καὶ Σουσίων καὶ Βαβυλωνίων ἀπὸ μέρους, ὅσον μυρίων οὖσα σταδίων· περὶ ὧν καὶ ἡμεῖς εἰρήκαμεν· τὸ δʼ ἐντεῦθεν ἑξῆς ἐπὶ τὸ στόμα πάλιν ἄλλοι τοσοῦτοι, καθάπερ καὶ Ἀνδροσθένη λέγειν φησὶ τὸν Θάσιον, τὸν καὶ Νεάρχῳ συμπλεύσαντα καθʼ αὑτόν· ὥστε δῆλον ἐκ τούτων εἶναι διότι μικρὸν ἀπολείπεται τῷ μεγέθει τῆς κατὰ τὸν Εὔξεινον θαλάττης αὕτη ἡ θάλαττα· λέγειν δέ φησιν ἐκεῖνον περιπεπλευκότα στόλῳ τὸν κόλπον, ὅτι ἀπὸ Τερηδόνος ἑξῆς ἐν δεξιᾷ ἔχοντι τὴν ἤπειρον ὁ παράπλους ἔχει προκειμένην νῆσον Ἴκαρον, καὶ ἱερὸν Ἀπόλλωνος ἅγιον ἐν αὐτῇ καὶ μαντεῖον Ταυροπόλου.

Notes on the current edition

Geography

1. The cape Harmozi, or Harmozon, is the cape Kuhestek of Carmania, Kerman, situated opposite to the promontory Maceta, so called from the Macae, an Arabian tribe living in the neighbourhood. This last promontory is now called Mocandon, and is the Asaborum promontorium of Ptolemy.

2. For a long period the Euphrates has ceased to discharge itself directly into the Persian Gulf, and now unites with the Tigris above 100 miles from the sea.

3. The reading followed, but not introduced into the text, by Kramer is that suggested by the corrections of Letronne and Groskurd, καὶ τὴν?̓αράβων παραλίαν παραπλεύσαντα καθ̓ αὑτόν.

4. Peludje, at the entrance of the Gulf of Gran.

Strabo Geography 16.3.2

Hans Claude Hamilton (Translator), William Falconer (Translator)

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