Description
Book SynopsisOffers a translation of the "Geography" and provides an introduction, which treats the historical and technical background of Ptolemy's work, the contents of the "Geography", and the later history of the work. This work also includes color reproductions of maps from manuscripts and early printed editions of the text.
Trade Review"A superlative new translation... In Berggren and Jones [Ptolemy] has, at long last, found his ideal exponents."--Peter Green, London Review of Books "Arguably, [Ptolemy's Geography] has been the most lastingly influential of all works in the earth sciences... This is a most useful volume, destined to be a primary source for classical scholars as well as for historians of science."--William A.S. Sarjeant, Earth Sciences History "By allowing us to hear in English the voice of one who was both the chief cartographer of the Greek world and the inspiration for the fifteenth-century cartographic revolution, Berggren and Jones have masterfully met a long-felt need."--Robert W. Karrow, Jr., Technology and Culture "Until now there has been no reliable translation of the Geography in English. Berggren and Jones have triumphantly filled that lack for the crucial portion of the work, the portion in which Ptolemy speaks as scientific geographer."--Lionel Casson, Classical Bulletin
Table of ContentsList of Illustrations ix Preface xi Note on Citations of Classical Authors xiii Introduction 3 What Ptolemy Expected His Reader to Know 5 The Place of the Geography in Ptolemy's Work 17 Ptolemy's Evolving Conception of the World 20 Marinos and Other Sources 23 Ptolemy's Map Projections and Coordinate Lists 31 The Manuscripts of the Geography 41 The Maps in the Manuscripts 45 Early Readers and Translators 50 Modern Editions and Translations of the Geography 52 Our Translation 53 Ptolemy, Guide to Drawing a Map of the World Book 1 57 Book 2 94 Book 7 108 Book 8 118 Plates and Maps Notes on the Plates and Maps 125 Plates 1-7 following p. 128 Maps 1-8 129 Appendices Appendix A: The Journeys of Flaccus and Maternus to the Aithiopians 145 Appendix B: Marinos' Calculation of the Latitude of Cape Prason 148 Appendix C: The Trade Route across Central Asia 150 Appendix D: The Breadth of the Mediterranean According to Marinos and Ptolemy 153 Appendix E: The Sail to Kattigara 155 Appendix F: The Miscellaneous Criticisms of Marinos' Data 157 Appendix G: Textual Notes 163 Appendix H: Geographical Index 168 Bibliography 183 Index 189
