The Classical Accounts of India c16: IX. Ptolemy

The Classical Accounts of India c16

Language: English

c16.s1 IX. Ptolemy's Geography of India and Southern Asia — 2 parts

IX. Ptolemy

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Ptolemy's *Treatise on Geography* forms the sequel of his famous work on *Astronomy* Both these works had the unique distinction of being regarded as authentic and standard treatises until quite recent times, and it may be said that they governed the world's opinion on these two subjects for a period of nearly 1300 years Even now, when discoveries of modern times have brought to light its grave and manifold errors, Ptolemaic Geography has been the subject of many learned dissertations

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The Chapters of Ptolemy's Geography relating to India supply a long list of places, many of which are otherwise unknown, and indicate their location by referring to the degrees of latitude and longitude Most of these place-names cannot be identified, for Ptolemy had a very distorted view of the shape of India and his determination of the positions of places is mostly inaccurate Nevertheless, with the help of the few places which can be definitely identified with modern localities, persistent attempts have been made by a succession of learned scholars to determine the approximate location of, and even to identify many of the other places These have, however, met with very little success, and reference has been made in the footnotes to a few reasonable hypotheses only

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In view of the importance of the subject matter, not only the English translation of the chapters relating to India by McCrindle, but his learned Introduction (M-IV) have been reproduced below A list of the geographical names, which are also mentioned in the Periplus of the Erythraean Sea, has been given at the end, and as their identifications have already been discussed in connection with this work, they are not dealt with in the notes.

IX. Ptolemy's Geography of India and Southern Asia

I. Introduction

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Ptolemy and his System of Geography

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Calaudius Ptolemaeus, or as he is commonly called, Ptolemy, was distinguished alike as a Mathematician, a Musician, an Astronomer and a Geographer, and was altogether one of the most accomplished men of science that antiquity produced. His works were considered as of paramount authority from the time of their publication until the discoveries of modern times had begun to show their imperfections and errors It is surprising that with all his fame, which had even in his own lifetime become pre-eminent, the particulars of his personal history should be shrouded in all but total darkness. Nothing in fact is known for certain regarding him further than that he flourished in Alexandria about the middle of the 2nd century of our era, in the reign of Antoninus Pius, whom he appears to have survived.

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His work on Geography formed a sequel to his great work on Astronomy, commonly called (by its Arabic title) *the Almagest.* From its title *An Outline of Geography*, we might be led to infer that it was a general treatise on the subject, like the comprehensive work of Strabo, but in reality it treats almost exclusively of Mathematical, or what may be called Cosmical, Geography. Ptolemy's object in composing it was not like that of the ordinary Geographer to describe places, but to correct and reform the map of the world in accordance with the increased knowledge which had been acquired of distant countries and with the improved state of science. He therefore limits his argument to an exposition of the geometrical principles on which Geography should be based, and to a determination of the position of places on the surface of the earth by their latitudes and longitudes. What he considered to be the proper method of determining geographical positions he states very clearly in the following passage: "The proper course," he says, "in drawing up a map of the world is to lay down as the basis of it those points that were determined by the most correct (astronomical) observations, and to fit into it those derived from other sources, so that their positions may suit as well as possible with the principal points thus laid down in the first instance".

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Unfortunately, as Bunbury remarks. it was impossible for him to carry out in practice—even approximately—the scheme that he had so well laid down in theory The astronomical observations to which he could refer were but few—and they were withal either so defective or so inaccurate that he could not use them with confidence. At the same time his information concerning many parts of the earth, whether owing to their remoteness or the conflicting accounts of travellers regarding them, was imperfect in the extreme The extent, however, of his geographical knowledge was far greater than that possessed by any of his predecessors, and he had access to sources of information which enabled him to correct many of the errors into which they had fallen.

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He was induced to undertake the composition of Geography through his being dissatisfied more or less with all the existing systems. There was however one work—that of his immediate precursor, Marinos of Tyre—which approximated somewhat closely to his ideal, and which he therefore made the basis of his own treatise. Marinos, he tells us, had collected his materials with the most praiseworthy diligence, and had moreover sifted them both with care and judgment. He points out, however, that his system required correction both as to the method of delineating the sphere on a plane surface, and as to the computation of distances, which he generally exaggerated. He censures him likewise for having assigned to the known world too great a length from west to east, and too great a breadth from north to south.

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Of Ptolemy's own system, the more prominent characteristics may now be noted: He assumed the earth to be a sphere, and adopting the estimate of Poseidonios fixed its circumference at 180,000 stadia, thus making the length of a degree at the equator to be only 500 stadia, instead of 600, which is its real length. To this fundamental miscalculation may be referred not a few of the most serious errors to be found in his work. With regard to the question of the length and the breadth of the inhabited part of the earth, a question of first importance in those days, he estimated its length, as measured along the parallel of Rhodes which divided the then known world into two nearly equal portions, at 72,000 stadia, and its breadth at 40,000 stadia. The meridian in the west from which he calculated his longitudes was that which passed through the Islands of the Blest, probably the Canary Islands, and his most eastern meridian was that which passed through the Metropolis of the Sînai, which he calls Sînai or Thînai, and places in 180° 40′ E. Long. and 3° S Lat. The distance of this meridian from that of Alexandria he estimated at 119½ degrees, and the distance of the first meridian from the same at 60½ degrees, making together 180 degrees, or exactly one-half of the circumference of the earth. His estimate of the breadth he obtained by fixing the southern limit of the inhabited parts in the parallel of 16½ degrees of South Latitude, which passes through a point as far south of the Equator as Meroë is north of it And by fixing the northern limit in the parallel of 63 degrees North Latitude, which passes through Thoule (probably the Shetland Islands), a space of nearly 80 degrees was thus included between the two parallels, and this was equivalent in Ptolemy's mode of reckoning to 40,000 stadia.

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Having made these determinations he had next to consider in what mode the surface of the earth with its meridians of longitude and parallels of latitude should be represented on a sphere and on a plane surface—of the two modes of delineation that on the sphere is the much easier to make, as it involves no method of projection, but a map drawn on a plane is far more convenient for use, as it presents simultaneously to the eye a far greater extent of surface. Marinos had drawn his map of the world on a plane, but his method of projection was altogether unsatisfactory. It is thus described by Ptolemy: Marinos, he says, on account of the importance of the countries around the Mediterranean, kept as his base the line fixed on of old by Eratosthenes, viz., the parallel through Rhodes in the 36th Degree of north latitude. He then calculated the length of a degree along this parallel, and found it to contain 400 stadia, the equatorial degree being taken at 500. Having divided this parallel into degrees he drew perpendiculars through the points of division for the meridians, and his parallels of latitude were straight lines parallel to that which passed through Rhodes. The imperfections of such a projection are obvious. It represented the parts of the earth north of the parallel of Rhodes much beyond, and those south of it much below, their proper length. Places again to the north of the line stood too far apart from each other, and those to the south of it too close together. The projection, moreover, is an erroneous representation, since the parallels of latitude ought to be circular arcs and not straight lines.

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Ptolemy having pointed out these objections to the system of Marinos proceeds to explain the methods which he himself employed. We need say nothing more regarding them than that they were such as presented a near approximation to some of those which are still in use among modern Geographers.

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Ptolemy's treatise is divided into 8 books. In the 1st or introductory book he treats first of Geography generally—he then explains and criticizes the system of Marinos, and concludes by describing the methods of projection which may be employed in the construction of maps. The next 6 books and the first 4 chapters of the 7th book consist of tables which give distinctly in degrees and parts of a degree the latitudes and longitudes of all the places in his map. These places are arranged together in sections according to the country or tribe to which they belong, and each section has prefixed to it a brief description of the boundaries and divisions of the part about to be noticed. Descriptive notices are also occasionally interspersed among the lists, but the number of such is by no means considerable. The remainder of the 7th book and the whole of the 8th are occupied with a description of a series of maps which, it would appear, had been prepared to accompany the publication of the work, and which are still extant. The number of the maps is twenty-six, viz. 10 for Europe, 4 for Libya, and 12 for Asia. They are drawn to different scales, larger or smaller, according as the division represented was more or less known. He gives for each map the latitudes and longitudes of a certain number of the most important cities contained in it, but these positions were not given in the same manner as in the tables, for the latitudes are now denoted by the length of the longest day and the longitudes according to the difference of time from Alexandria. It might be supposed that the positions in question were such as had been determined by actual astronomical observations, as distinguished from those in the Tables, which were for the most part derived from itineraries, or from records of voyages and travels. This supposition is however untenable, for we find that while the statements as to the length of the longest days at the selected places are always correct for the latitudes assigned them, they are often glaring wrong for their real positions. Ptolemy, it is evident, first mapped out in the best way he could the places, and then calculated for the more important of these places the astronomical phenomena incident to them as so situated. I conclude by presenting the reader with a translation of some chapters of the Introductory Book, where Ptolemy in reviewing the estimate made by Marinos of the length of the known world from west to east, has frequent occasion to mention India and the Provinces beyond the Ganges, which together constitute what is now called Indo-China.

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Book I., Chap. 11.

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1. What has now been stated will suffice to show us what extent in *breadth* it would be fair to assign to the inhabited world. Its *length* is given by Marinos at 15 hours, this being the distance comprised between his two extreme meridians—but in our opinion he has unduly extended the distance towards the east In fact, if the estimate be properly reduced in this direction the entire length must be fixed at less than 12 hours, the Islands of the Blest being taken as the limit towards the west, and the remotest parts of Sera and the Sinai and Kattigara as the limit towards the east.

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2. Now the entire distance from the Islands of the Blest to the passage of the Euphrates at Hierapolis, as measured along the parallel of Rhodes, is accurately determined by summing together the several intervening distances as estimated in stadia by Marinos, for not only were the distances well ascertained from being frequently traversed, but Marinos seems moreover in his computation of the greater distances, to have taken into account the necessary corrections for irregularities and deviations. He understood, besides, that while the length of a single degree of the 360 degrees into which the equatorial circle is divided measures, as in the commonly accepted estimate, 500 stadia, the parallel circle which passes through Rhodes in 36 degrees of N. latitude, measures about 400 stadia.

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3. It measures, in fact, a little over that number if we go by the exact portion of the parallels, but the excess is so trifling as in the case of the equatorial degree, that it may be neglected. But his estimates of the distances beyond Hierapolis require correction.

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4. He computes the distance from the passage of the Euphrates already mentioned to the Stone Tower at 876 *schoeni* or 26,280 stadia, and from the Stone Tower to Sera, the metropolis of the Seres, at a 7 months' journey or 36,200 stadia as reckoned along the same parallel. Now in neither case has he made the proper deductions for the excess caused by deviations; and for the second route he falls into the same absurdity as when he estimated the distance from the Garamantes to Agisymba.

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5. Where he had to deduct above half of the stadia in the march of the 3 months and 14 days, since such a march could not possibly have been accomplished without halting. The necessity for halting would be still more urgent when the march was one which occupied 7 months.

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6 But the former march was accomplished even by the king of the country himself, who would naturally use every precaution, and the weather besides was all throughout most propitious But the route from the Stone Tower to Sera is exposed to violent storms, for as he himself assumes, it lies under the parallels of the Hellespont and Byzantium, so that the progress of travellers would be frequently interrupted.

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7. Now it was by means of commerce this became known, for Marinos tells us that one Maes, a Macedonian, called also Titianus, who was a merchant by hereditary profession, had written a book giving the measurement in question, which he had obtained not by visiting the Seres in person, but from the agents whom he had sent to them. But Marinos seems to have distrusted accounts borrowed from traders.

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8. In giving, for instance, on the authority of Philemon, the length of Ivernia (Ireland) at a 20 days' journey, he refused to accept this estimate, which was got, he tells us, from merchants, whom he reprobates as a class of men too much engrossed with their own proper business to care about ascertaining the truth, and who also from mere vanity frequently exaggerated distances. So too, in the case before us, it is manifest that nothing in the course of the 7 months' journey was thought worthy either of record or remembrance by the travellers except the prodigious time taken to perform it.

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Cap. 12

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1. Taking all this into consideration, together with the fact that the route does not lie along one and the same parallel (the Stone Tower being situated near the parallel of Byzantium, and Sera lying farther south than the parallel through the Hellespont) it would appear but reasonable in this case also to diminish by not less than a half the distance altogether traversed in the 7 months' journey, computed at 36,200 stadia, and so let us reduce the number of stadia which these represent at the equator by one-half only, and we thus obtain (22,625) stadia or 45¼ degrees.

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2. For it would be absurd, and show a want of proper judgment, if, when reason enjoins us to curtail the length of both routes, we should follow the injunction with respect to the African route, to the length of which there is the obvious objection, viz., the species of animals in the neighbourhood of Agisymba, which cannot bear to be transplanted from their own climate to another, while we refuse to follow the injunction with regard to the route from the Stone Tower, because there is not a similar objection to its length, seeing that the temperature all along this route is uniform, quite independently of its being longer or shorter Just as if one who reasons according to the principles of philosophy could not, unless the case were otherwise clear, arrive at a sound conclusion

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3. With regard again to the first of the two Asiatic routes, that, I mean which leads from the Euphrates to the Stone Tower, the estimate of 870 *schoeni* must be reduced to 800 only, or 24,000 stadia, on account of deviations.

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4. We may accept as correct his figures for the entire distance as the several stages had been frequently traversed and had therefore been measured with accuracy. But that there were numerous deviations is evident from what Marinos himself tells us.

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5. For the route from the passage of the Euphrates at Hierapolis through Mesopotamia to the Tigris, and the route thence through the Garamaioi of Assyria, and through Media to Ecbatana and the Caspian Gates, and through Parthia to Hecatompylos Marinos considers to lie along the parallel which passes through Rhodes, for he traces (in his map) this parallel as passing through these regions.

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6 But the route from Hecatompyols to the capital city of Hyrcania must, of necessity, diverge to the north, because that city lies somewhere between the parallel of Smyrna and that of the Hellespont, since the parallel of Smyrna is traced as passing below Hyrcania and that of the Hellespont, through the southern parts of the Hyrcanian Sea from the city bearing the same name, which lies a little farther north.

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7. But, again, the route herefrom to Antiokheia (Merv) of Margiana through Areia, at first bends towards the south, since Areia lies under the same parallel as the Caspian Gates, and then afterwards turns towards the north, Antiokheia being situated under the parallel of the Hellespont. The route after this runs in an eastward direction to Bactra whence it turns towards the north in ascending the mountains of the Komedoi, and then in passing through these mountains it pursues a southern course as far as the ravine that opens into the plain country.

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8. For the northern parts of the mountain region and those furthest to the west where the ascent begins, are placed by him under the parallel of Byzantium, and those in the south and the east under the parallel of the Hellespont. For this reason, he says, that this route makes a detour of equal length in opposite directions, that in advancing to the east it bends towards the south, and thereafter probably runs up towards the north for 50 *schoeni*, till it reaches the Stone Tower.

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9. For to quote his own words, “When the traveller has ascended the ravine he arrives at the Stone Tower, after which the mountains that trend to the east unite with Imaus, the range that runs up to the north from Palimbothra ”

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10 If, then, to the 60 degrees made up of the 24,000 stadia, we add the 45¼ degrees which present the distance from the Stone Tower to Sera, we get 105¼ degrees as the distance between the Euphrates and Sera as measured along the parallel of Rhodes.

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11 But, further, we can infer from the number of stadia which he gives as the distance between successive places lying along the same parallel, that the distance from the Islands of the Blest to the sacred Promontory in Spain (*Cape St. Vincent*), is 2½ degrees, and the distance thence to the mouth of the Baetis (*Guadalquivir*), the same. From the Baetis to Kalpe, and the entrance of the Straits, 2½ degrees. From the Straits to Karallis in Sardinia, 25 degrees. From Karallis to Lilybaion, in Sicily, 4½ degrees. From this Cape to Pakhynos, 3 degrees. Then again, from Pakhynos to Tainaros, in Lakonia, 10 degrees. Thence to Rhodes, 8¼ degrees. From Rhodes to Issus, 11¼ degrees, and finally from Issus to the Euphrates, 2½ degrees

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12. The sum of these particular distances gives a total of 72 degrees, consequently the entire length of the known world between the meridian of the Islands of the Blest and that of the Seres is 177¼ degrees, as has been already shown.

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Cap. 13

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1 That such is the length of the inhabited world may also be inferred from his estimate of the distances in a voyage from India to the Gulf of the Sinai and Kattigara, if the sinuosities of the coast and irregularity of the navigation be taken into account, together with the positions as drawn into nearer proximity in the projections; for, he says, that beyond the Cape called Kory where the Kolkhic Gulf terminates, the Argaric Gulf begins, and that the distance thence to the City of Kouroula, which is situated to the north-east of Kory is 3,400 stadia.

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2. The distance right across may, therefore, be estimated at about 2,030 stadia, since we have to deduct a third because of the navigation having followed the curvature of the Gulf, and have also to make allowances for irregularities in the length of the courses run.

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3 If now we further reduce this amount by a third, because the sailing, *though subject to interruption*, was taken as continuous, there remain 1,350 stadia, determining the position of Kouroula as situated north-east from Kory

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4. If now this distance be referred to a line running parallel to the equator and towards the East, and we reduce its length by half in accordance with the intercepted angle, we shall have as the distance between the meridian of Kouroula and that of Kory, 675 stadia, or 1⅓ degree, since the parallels of these places do not differ materially from the great circle east about 6,300 stadia.

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⁵ But to proceed: the course of the voyage from Kouroula lies, he says, to the south-east as far as Paloura, the distance being 9,450 stadia. Here, if we deduct as before one-third for the irregularities in the length of the courses, we shall have the distance on account of the navigation having been continuous to the south-

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6. And if we deduct from this in like manner as before one-sixth, in order to find the distance parallel to the equator, we shall make the interval between the meridians of these two places 5,250 stadia, or 10½ degrees.

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7. At this place the Gangetic Gulf begins, which he estimates to be in circuit 19,000 stadia. The passage across it from Paloura to Sada in a direct line from west to east is 1,300 stadia. Here, then, we have but one deduction to make, viz., one-third on account of the irregularity of the navigation, leaving as the distance between the meridians of Paloura and Sada 8,670 stadia, or 17⅓ degrees.

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8. The voyage is continued onward from Sada to the City of Tamala, a distance of 3,500 stadia, in a south-eastward direction. If a third be here again deducted on account of irregularities, we find the length of the continuous passage to be 2,330 stadia, but we must further take into account the divergence towards the south-east, and deduct one-sixth, so we find the distance between the meridians in question to be 1,940 stadia. or 3° 50′ nearly

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9 He next sets down the passage from Tamala to the Golden Khersonese at 1,600 stadia, the direction being still towards the south-east, so that after making the usual deductions there remain as the distance between the two meridians 900 stadia, or 1° 48′. The sum of these particulars makes the distance from Cape Kory to the Golden Khersonese to be 34° 48′

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Cap. 14

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1. Marinos does not state the number of stadia in the passage from the Golden Khersonese to Kattigara, but says that one Alexander had written that the land thereafter faced the south, and that those sailing along this coast reached the city of Zaba in 20 days, and by continuing the voyage from Zaba southward, but keeping more to the left, they arrived after some days at Kattigara.

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2. He then makes this distance very great by taking the expression "some days" to mean "many days", assigning as his reason that the days occupied by the voyage were too many to be counted,—a most absurd reason, it strikes me.

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3. For would even the number of days it takes to go round the whole world be past counting? And was there anything to prevent Alexander writing "many" instead of "some", especially when we find him saying that Dioskoros had reported that the voyage from Rhapta to Cape Prasum took "many days". One might in fact with far more reason take "some" to mean "a few", for we have been wont to censure this style (*of expression*).

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4. So now lest we should appear to fall ourselves into the same error, that of adapting conjectures about distances to some number already fixed on, let us compare the voyage from the Golden Khersonese to Kattigara, consisting of the 20 days to Zaba and the "some days" thence to Kattigara with the voyage from Aromata to Cape Prasum, and we find that the voyage from Aromata to Rhapta took also 20 days as reported by Theophilos, and the voyage from Rhapta to Prasum "many more days" as reported by Dioskoros, so that we may set side by side the "some days" with the "many days" and like Marinos take them to be equivalent.

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5 Since then, we have shown both by reasoning and by stating ascertained facts, that Prasum is under the parallel of 16° 25′ in South latitude, while the parallel through Cape Aromata is 4° 15′ in North latitude, making the distance between the two capes 20° 40′, we might with good reason make the distance from the Golden Khersonese to Zaba and thence to Kattigara just about the same

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6. It is not necessary to curtail the distance from the Golden Khersonese to Zaba, since as the coast faces the south it must run parallel with the equator. We must reduce, however, the distance from Zaba to Kattigara, since the course of the navigation is towards the south and the east, in order that we may find the position parallel to the equator

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7. If again, in our uncertainty as to the real excess of the distances, we allot say one-half of the degrees to each of these distances, and from the 13° 20′ between Zaba and Kattigara we deduct a third on account of the divergence, we shall have the distance from the Golden Khersonese to Kattigara along a line parallel to the equator of about 17° 10′

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8. But it has been shown that the distance from Cape Kory to the Golden Khersonese is 34° 48′, and so the entire distance from Kory to Kattigara will be about 52°.

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9. But again, the meridian which passes through the sources of the River Indus is a little further west than the Northern Promontory of Taprobane, which according to Marinos is opposite to Kory, from which the meridian which passes through the mouths of the River Baetis is a distance of 8 hours or 120°. Now as this meridian is 5° from that of the Islands of the Blest, the meridian of Cape Kory is more than 125° from the meridian of the Islands of the Blest. But the meridian through Kattigara is distant from that through the Islands of the Blest a little more than 177° in the latitude of Kory, each of which contains about the same number of stadia as a degree reckoned along the parallel of Rhodes.

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10. The entire length then of the world to the Metropolis of the Sinai may be taken at 180 degrees or an interval of 12 hours, since it is agreed on all hands that this Metropolis lies further east than Kattigara, so that the length along the parallel of Rhodes will be 72,000 stadia.

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Cap. 17. (part)

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3 For all who have crossed the seas to those places agree in assuring me that the district of Sakhalites in Arabia, and the Gulf of the same name, lie to the east of Syagros, and not to the west of it as stated by Marinos, who also makes Simylla, the emporium in India, to be further west not only than Cape Komari, but also than the Indus

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4. But according to the unanimous testimony both of those who have sailed from us to those places and have for a long time frequented them, and also of those who have come from thence to us, Simylla, which by the people of the country is called Timoula, lies only to the south of the mouths of the river, and not also to west of them.

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5. From the same informants we have also learned other particulars regarding India and its different provinces, and its remote parts as far as the Golden Khersonese and onward thence to Kattigara. In sailing thither, the voyage, they said, was towards the east, and in returning towards the west, but at the same time they acknowledged that the period which was occupied in making the voyages was neither fixed nor regular. The country of the Seres and their Metropolis was situated to the north of the Sinai, but the regions to the eastward of both those people were unknown, abounding, it would appear, in swamps, wherein grew reeds that were of a large size and so close together that the inhabitants by means of them could go right across from one end of a swamp to the other In travelling these parts there was not only the road that led to Bactriane by way of the Stone Tower, but also a road that led into India through Palimbothra. The road again that led from the Metropolis of the Sinai to the Haven at Kattigara runs in a south-west direction, and hence this road does not coincide with the meridian which passes through Sera and Kattigara, but, from what Marinos tells us, with some one or other of those meridians that are further east.

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I may conclude this prefatory matter by quoting from Mr. Bunbury his general estimate of the value of Ptolemy's Indian Geography as set forth in his criticism of Ptolemy's Map of India.

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His strictures, though well grounded, may perhaps be considered to incline to the side of severity. He says (vol. II, pp. 642-3), "Some excellent remarks on the portion of Ptolemy's work devoted to India, the nature of the different materials of which he made use, and the manner in which he employed them, will be found in Colonel Yule's introduction to his Map of India, in Dr. Smith's Atlas of Ancient Geography (pp. 22-24) These remarks are indeed in great measure applicable to the mode of proceeding of the Alexandrian Geographer in many other cases also, though the result is particularly conspicuous in India from the fulness of the information—crude and undigested as it was—which he had managed to bring together. The result, as presented to us in the tables of Ptolemy, is a map of utter confusion, out of which it is very difficult to extract in a few instances any definite conclusions" The attempt of Lassen to identify the various places mentioned by Ptolemy, is based throughout upon the fundamental error of supposing that the geographer possessed a Map of India similar to our own, and that we have only to compare the ancient and modern names in order to connect the two. As Col Yule justly observes, "Practically, he (Lassen) deals with Ptolemy's compilation as if that Geographer had possessed a collection of real Indian surveys, with the data systematically co-ordinated. The fact is, that if we should take one of the rude maps of India that appeared in the 16th century (e.g. in Mercator or in Lindschoten), draw lines of latitude and longitude and then *more Ptolemaico* construct tables registering the co-ordinates of cities, sources and confluences as they appeared in that map, this would be the sort of material we have to deal with in Ptolemy's India". But, in fact, the case is much stronger than Col Yule puts it. For such a map as he refers to, of the 16th century, however rude, would give a generally correct idea of the form and configuration of the Indian Peninsula. But this, as we have seen, was utterly misconcieved by Ptolemy. Hence he had to fit his data, derived from various sources such as maritime and land itineraries, based upon real experience, into a framework to which they were wholly unsuited, and this could only be effected by some Procrustean process, or rather by a repetition of such processes, concerning which we are left wholly in the dark.

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Col. Yule’s map of Ancient India is undoubtedly by far the best that has yet been produced; it is indeed the only attempt to interpret Ptolemy data, upon which such a map must mainly be founded, upon anything like sound critical principles But it must be confessed that the result is far from encouraging So small a proportion of Ptolemy’s names can find a place at all, and so many of those even that appear on the map are admitted by its author to rest upon very dubious authority; that we remain almost wholly in the dark as to the greater part of his voluminous catalogues; and are equally unable to identify the localities which he meant to designate, and to pronounce an opinion upon the real value of his materials”.

II. Text

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Book VII

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Book VII. Cap. I

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*Description of India within the Ganges.*

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1. India within the river Ganges is bounded on the west by the Paropanisadai and Arakhosia and Gedrosia along their eastern sides already indicated; on the north by Mount Imaos along the Sogdiaioi and the Sakai lying above it; on the east by the river Ganges; and on the south and again on the west by a portion of the Indian Ocean. The circuit of the coast of this ocean is thus described :—

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| 2. In Syrastrene, on the Gulf called Kanthi, a roadstead and harbour .. | 109° 30′ | 20° |
| The most western mouth of the River Indus called Sagapa . .. | 110° 20′ | 19° 50′ |

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| The next mouth called Sinthon | . . | 110° 40′ | 19° 50′ |
| The 3rd called Khrysoun (the Golden) | | 111° 20′ | 19° 50′ |
| The 4th called Kariphron | . . | 111° 40′ | 19° 50′ |
| The 5th called Sapara | . . | 112° 30′ | 19° 50′ |
| The 6th called Sabalaessa | . . | 113° | 20° 15′ |
| The 7th called Lonibare | . . | 113° 30′ | 20° 15′ |
| 3. Bardaxema, a town | . . | 113° 40′ | 19° 40′ |
| Syrastra, a village | . . | 114° | 19° 30′ |
| Monoglosson, a mart | . . | 114° 10′ | 18° 40′ |
| 4. In Larike. | | | |
| Mouth of the River Mophis | . . | 114° | 18° 20′ |
| Pakidare, a village | . . | 113° | 17° 50′ |
| Cape Maleo | . . | 111° | 17° 30′ |
| 5. In the Gulf of Barygaza | | | |
| Kamane . . | . | 112° | 17° |
| Mouth of the River Namados | | 112° | 17° 45′ |
| Nausaripa . | . . | 112° 30′ | 16° 30′ |
| Poulipoula . | . | 112° 30′ | 16° |
| 6. Ariake Sadinon. | | | |
| Soupara | . | 112° 30′ | 15° 30′ |
| Mouth of the River Goaris | | 112° 15′ | 15° 10′ |
| Dounga . | . . | 111° 30′ | 15° |
| Mouth of the River Benda | | 110° 30′ | 15° |
| Simylla, a mart and a cape | | 110 | 14 45′ |
| Hippokoura | . . | 111° 45′ | 14° 10′ |
| Baltipatna . | . | 110 30′ | 14° 20′ |
| 7 (Ariake) of the Pirates. | | | |
| Mandagara . | | 113° | 14° |
| Byzanteion . | . . | 113° 40′ | 14° 40′ |
| Khersonesos | . | 114° 20′ | 14° 30′ |
| Armagara . | . . | 114° 20′ | 14° 20′ |
| Mouth of the River Nanagouna | . | 114° 30′ | 13° 50′ |
| Nitra, a mart | . | 115° 30′ | 14° 40′ |
| 8. Limyrike. | | | |
| Tyndis, a city | . . | 116° | 14° 30′ |
| Bramagara . . | . . | 116° 45′ | 14° 20′ |
| Kalaikarias . | . | 116° 40′ | 14° |
| Mouziris, an emporium | . . | 117° | 14° |
| Mouth of the River Pseudostomos | . . | 117° 20′ | 14° |
| Podoperoura | . . | 117° 40′ | 14° 15 |
| Semne . . | . . | 118° | 14° 20 |

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Koreoura . . . . 118° 40′ 14° 20′ Bakarei . . . . 119° 30′ 14° 30′ Mouth of the River Baris . . 120° 14° 20′

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9. Country of the Aioi.

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Melkynda . . . . 120° 20′ 14° 20′ Elangkon (or Elangkor), a mart . . 120° 40′ 14° Kottiara, the metropolis . . 121° 14° Bammala . . 121° 20′ 14° 15′ Komaria, a cape and town 121° 45′ 13° 30′

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10. Country of the Kareoi

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In the Kolkhic Gulf, where there is the Pearl Fishery :—

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Sosikourai . . . 122° 14° 30′ Kolkhoi, an emporium 123° 15° Mouth of the river Solen . 124° 14° 40′

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11. Land of Pandion.

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In the Orgalic Gulf, Cape

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Kory, called also Kalligikon . 125° 40′ 12° 20′ Argeirou, a town 125° 15′ 14° 30′ Salour, a mart . 125° 20′ 15° 30′

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12. Country of the Batoi.

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Nikama, the Metropolis 126° 16° Thelkheir . . 127° 16° 10′ Kouroula, a town 128° 16°

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13. In Paralia specially so called : the country of the Toringoi.

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Mouth of the River Khaberos 129° 15° 15′ Khaberis, an emporium . . . . 128° 30′ 15° 40′ Sabouras, an emporium . . . . 130° 14° 30′

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14. The Arouarnoi (Arvarnoi).

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Podouke, an emporium . . . . 130° 15′ 14° 30′ Melange, an emporium . . . . 131° 14° 20′ Mouth of the River Tyna . 131° 40′ 12° 45′ Kottis . . . 132° 20′ 12° 10′ Manarpha (or Manaliarpha, a mart) . . 133° 10′ 12°

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15. Maisolia.

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Mouth of the River Maisolos . 134° 11° 40′ Kontakossyla, a mart . . . . 134° 30′ 11° 40′ Koddoura . . . . 135° 11° 30′ Allosygne, a mart . . . . 135° 40′ 11° 20′ The point of departure (*apheterion*) for ships bound for Khryse . . 136° 20′ 11° 16. In the Gangetic Gulf.

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| Paloura or Pakoura, a town | 136° 40′ | 11° 20′ |
| Nanigaina | 136° 20′ | 12° |
| Katikardama | 136° 20′ | 12° 40′ |
| Kannagara | 136° 30′ | 13° 30′ |
| Mouth of the River Manada | 137° | 14° |
| Kottobara | 137° 15′ | 14° 40′ |
| Sippara | 137° 40′ | 15° 30′ |
| Mouth of the River Tyndis | 138° 30′ | 16° |
| 17. Mapoura | 139° | 16° 30′ |
| Minagara | 140° | 17° 15′ |
| Mouth of the Dosaron | 141° | 17° 40′ |
| Kokala | 142° | 18° |
| Mouth of the River Adamas | 142° 40′ | 18° |
| Kosamba or Kosaba | 143° 30′ | 18° 15′ |
| 18. Mouths of the Ganges. | | |
| The Kambyson mouth, the most western | 144° 30′ | 18° 15′ |
| Poloura, a town | 145° | 18° 30′ |
| The second mouth, called Mega | 145° 45′ | 18° 30′ |
| The third called Kamberikhon | 146° 30′ | 18° 40′ |
| Tilogrammon, a town | 147° 20′ | 18° |
| The fourth mouth, Pseudostomon | 147° 40′ | 18° 30′ |
| The fifth mouth, Antibole | 148° 30′ | 18° 15′ |

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19. The mountains belonging to Intragangetic India are named as follows :—

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The Apokopa, called *Poinai Theon*, which extended from long. 116° to 124° and from lat. 23° at their western limit to 26° at the eastern.

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20. Mount Sardonyx, in which is found the precious stone of the same name, and whose middle point is in long 117° and lat. 21°.

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21. Mount Ouindion (Vindion) which extends from 126° to 135° and preserves from its western to its eastern limit a uniform latitude of 27°.

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22. Bettigo, which extends from 123° to 130°, and whose western limit is in lat. 21° and its eastern in 20°.

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23. Adeisathron, whose middle point is in long. 132° and in lat. 23°.

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24. Ouxenton, which extends from 136° to 143°, and whose western limit is in lat. 22° and its eastern in 24°.

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25. The Oroudian Mountains, which extends from 138° to 133°, and whose eastern limit is in 18° lat. and its western 16°.

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26. The rivers which flow from Mount Imaos into the Indus are arranged as follows :—

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| Sources of the River Koa, . . | 120° | 37° |
| Sources of the River Souastos | 122° 30′ | 36° |
| Sources of the River Indus | 125° | 37° |
| Sources of the River Bidaspes | 127° 30′ | 36° 40′ |
| Sources of the River Sandabal . | 129° | 36 |
| Sources of the River Adris or Rouadis | 130° | 37° |
| Sources of the River Bibasis | 131° | 35° 30′ |
| 27 Sources of the River Zaradros | 132° | 36° |
| Confluence of the Koa and Indus | 124 | 31° |
| Confluence of the Koa and Souastos | 122° 30′ | 31° 40′ |
| Confluence of the Zaradros and Indus | 124° | 30° |
| Confluence of the Zaradros and Bidaspes | 125° | 30 |
| Confluence of the Zaradros and Bibasis | 131° | 34 |
| Confluence of the Bidaspes and Adris | 126° 30′ | 31° 30′ |
| Confluence of the Bidaspes and Sandabal | 126 40′ | 32° 40′ |
| 28 Divarication from the Indus running towards Mt Ouindion | 123 | 29° 30′ |
| The source of (tributary joining) the Divarication . | 127 | 27° |
| Divarication of the Indus towards Arakhosia . | 121° 30′ | 27° 30′ |
| Divarication of the Koa towards the Paropanisadai . | 121° 30′ | 33° |
| The source of (tributary joining) the Divarication . . | 115° | 24° 30′ |
| Divarication of the Indus towards the Arbita Mountains . . | 117° | 25° 10′ |
| Divarication of the Indus towards the Paropanisadai | 124° 30′ | 31° 20′ |
| Divarication of the Indus into the Sagapa mouth | 113° 40′ | 23° 15′ |
| From the Sagapa into the Indus . | 111° | 21° 30′ |
| Divarication of the Indus into the Khrysoun (or Golden) mouth | 112° 30′ | 22° |
| Divarication of the Indus into the Khariphon mouth . . | 113° 30′ | 22° 20′ |
| From the Khariphon to the Sapara . . | 112° 30′ | 21° 45′ |

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Divarication of the same River Khariphon into the Sabalaessa mouth .. 113° 21° 20′ Divarication from the River Khariphon into the Lonibare mouth .. 113° 20′ 21° 40′

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29. Of the streams which join the Ganges the order is this:— Sources of the River Diamouna .. 134° 30′ 36° Sources of the Ganges itself . 136° 37° Sources of the River Sarabos . 140° 36° Junction of the Diamouna and Ganges 136° 34° Junction of the Sarabos and Ganges .. 136° 30′ 32° 30′

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30. Divarication from the Ganges towards the Ouindion range to the mouth of the River Soa 136° 10′ 31° 30′ The Sources of the river . 131° 28° Divarication of the Ganges towards the Ouxenton range .. 142° 28° The sources of the divarication .. 137° 23° Divarication from the Ganges into the Kambyson Mouth .. 146° 22° Divarication from the Ganges into the Pseudostomos .. 146° 30′ 20° Divarication from the Ganges into the Antibole Mouth .. 146° 30′ 21° Divarication from the Kambyson River into the Mega Mouth . 145° 20° Divarication from the Mega Mouth into the Kamberikhon Mouth . 145° 30′ 19° 30′

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31. And of the other rivers the positions are thus :— The sources of the River Namados in the Ouindion range . 127° 26° 30′ The bend of the river at Seripala . 116° 30′ 22° Its confluence with the River Mophis . 115° 18° 30′

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32. Sources of the River Nanagouna from the Ouindion range .. 132° 26° 30′ Where it bifurcates into the Goaris and Binda .. .. 114° 16°

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33. Sources of the Pseudostomos from the Bettigo range .. 123° 21° The point where it turns .. 118° 30′ 17° 15′

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34. Sources of the River Baris in the Bettigo range .. 127° 26° 30′

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Sources of the River Solen in the Bettigo range . . . 127° 20° 30′ The point where it turns . . 124° 18°
35. Sources of the River Khaberos in the Adeisathron range . 132° 22°
36. Sources of the River Tyna in the Oroudian (or Arouedan) Mountains 133° 17°
37. Sources of the River Maisolos in the same mountains 134° 30′ 17° 30′
38. Sources of the River Manda in the same mountains . . 136° 30′ 16° 30′
39. Sources of the River Toundis in the Ouxenton range . . 137 22° 30′
40. Sources of the River Dosaron in the same range . . 140° 24°
41. Sources of the River Adamas in the same range . . 140° 24°

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42. The order of the territories in this division (India intra Gangem) and of their cities or villages is as follows —.

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Below the sources of the Koa are located the Lambatai, and their mountain region extends upwards to that of the Komedai.

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Below the sources of the Souastos is Souastene

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Below those of the Indus are the Daradrai, in whose country the mountains are of surpassing height.

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Below the sources of the Bidaspes and of the Sandabal and of the Adris is Kaspeiria.

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Below the sources of the Bibasis and of the Zaradros and of the Diamouna and of the Ganges is Kylindrine, and below the Lambatai and Souastene is Goryaia.

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43. And the cities are these:—

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| Kaisana | . . | . . | . . | 120° | 34° 20′ |
| Baborana | . . | . . | . . | 120° 15′ | 33° 40′ |
| Gorya | . . | . . | . . | 122° | 34° 45′ |
| Nagara or Dionysopolis | | | . . | 121° 45′ | 33° |
| Drastoka | . | . . | . . | 120° 30′ | 32° 30′ |

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44. Between the Souastos and the Indus the Gandarai and these cities:—

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| Próklais | . . | . . | . . | 123° | 32° |
| Naulibi | . . | . . | . . | 124° 20′ | 33° 20′ |

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45. Between the Indus and the Bidaspes towards the Indus the Arsa territory and these cities :—

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| Ithagouros | .. | .. | 125° 40′ | 33° 20′ |
| Taxiala | .. | .. | 125° | 32° 15′ |

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46. Around the Bidaspes, the country of the Pandoouoi, in which are these cities :—

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| Labaka | .. | .. | 127° 30′ | 34° 15′ |
| Sagala, otherwise called Euthymedia | .. | 126° 20′ | 32° | |
| Boukephala | .. | .. | 125° 30′ | 30° 20′ |
| Iomousa | .. | .. | 124° 15′ | 30° |

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47. The regions extending thence towards the east are possessed by the Kaspeiraioi, and to them belong these cities :—

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| 48 Salagissa | .. | .. | 129° 30′ | 34° 30′ |
| Astrassos | . | .. | 131° 15′ | 34° 15′ |
| Labokla | . | .. | 128° | 33° 20′ |
| Batanagra | .. | .. | 130° | 33° 30′ |
| Arispara | .. | .. | 130° | 32° 50′ |
| Amakatis | .. | .. | 128° 15′ | 32° 20′ |
| Ostobalasara | | .. | 129° | 32° |
| 49. Kaspeira | .. | .. | 127° | 31° 15′ |
| Pasikana | .. | .. | 128° 30′ | 31° 15′ |
| Daidala | .. | .. | 128° | 30° 30′ |
| Ardone | .. | .. | 126° 15′ | 30° 10′ |
| Indabara | .. | .. | 127° 15′ | 30° |
| Liganeira | .. | .. | 125° 30′ | 29° |
| Khonnamagara | | .. | 128° | 29° 20′ |
| 50 Modoura, the city of the gods | | 125° | 27° 30′ | |
| Gagasmira | .. | .. | 126° 40′ | 27° 30′ |
| Erarasa, a Metropolis | .. | .. | 123° | 26° |
| Kognandaua | .. | .. | 124° | 26° |

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51. Still further to the east than the Kaspeiraioi are the Gymnosophistai, and after these around the Ganges further north are the Daitikhai with these towns :—

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| Konta | . | .. | 133° 30′ | 34° 40′ |
| Margara | .. | .. | 135° | 34° |
| Batangkaissara and east of the river | .. | 132° 40′ | 33° 20′ | |
| Passala | .. | .. | 137° | 34° 15′ |
| Orza | .. | .. | 136° | 33° 20′ |

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52. Below these are the Anikhai with these towns :—

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| Persakra | .. | .. | 134° | 32° 40′ |

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Sannaba . . . . . . 135° 32° 30′ Toana to the east of the river . . 136° 30′ 32°
53. Below these Prasiake with these towns :— Sambalaka . . . . 132° 15′ 31° 50′ Adısdara . . . . 136° 31° 30′ Kanagora . . . . 135° 30° 40′ Kindia . . . . 137° 30° 20′ Sagala, and east of the river . . 139° 30° 20′ Anınakha . . . . 137° 20′ 31° 40′ Koangka . . . . 138° 20′ 31° 30′
54. South of this Saurabatis with these towns :— Empelathra . . . . 130° 30° Nadoubandagar . . 138° 40′ 29° Tamasıs . . . . 133° 29° Kouraporeina . . . . 130° 29°

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55. And further, all the country along the rest of the course of the Indus is called by the general name of Indo-Scythia Of this, the insular portion formed by the bifurcation of the river towards its mouth is Patalene, and the region above this is Abiria, and the region about the mouths of the Indus and Gulf of Kanthi is Syrastrene. The towns of Indo-Scythia are these, to the west of the river at some distance therefrom .— 56 Artoarta . . . . 121° 30′ 31° 15′ Andrapana . . . . 121° 15′ 30° 40′ Sabana . . . . 122° 20′ 32° Banagara . . . . 122° 15′ 30° 40′ Kodrana . . . . 121° 15′ 29° 20′
57. And along the river :— Embolima . . . . . . 124° 31° Pentagramma . . 124° 30° 20′ Asigramma . . . . 123° 29° 30′ Tiausa . . . . 121° 30′ 28° 50′ Aristobathra . . . . 120° 27° 30′ Azika . . . . . . 119° 20′ 27°
58. Pardabathra . . . . 117° 23° 30′ Piska . . . . . . 116° 30′ 25° Pasipeda . . . . . . 114° 30′ 24° Sousikana . . . . . . 112° 22° 20′ Bonis . . . . . . 111° 21° 30′ Kolaka . . . . . . 110° 30′ 20° 40′ 59. And in the islands formed by the river are these towns :— Patala .. .. .. 112° 30′ 21° Barbarei .. .. .. 113° 15′ 22° 30′

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60. And east of the river at some distance therefrom are these towns :— Xodrake .. .. .. 116° 24° Sarbana .. .. .. 116° 22° 50′ Auxoamis .. .. .. 115° 30′ 22° 20′ Asinda .. .. .. 114° 15′ 22° Orbadarou or Ordabari .. .. 115° 22° Theophila .. .. .. 114° 15′ 21° 10′ Astakapra .. .. .. 114° 40′ 20° 15′

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61. Along the river are these towns :— Panasa . . 122° 30′ 29° Boudaia . .. .. 121° 15′ 28° 15′ Naagramma .. .. . 120° 27° Kamigara . .. . 119° 26° 20′ Binagara . .. . 118° 25° 20′ Parabali . . 116° 30′ 24° 30′ Sydros . . 114° 21° 20′ Epitausa . .. .. 113° 45′ 22° 30′ Xoana 113° 30′ 21° 30′

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62. The parts east of Indo-Scythia along the coast belong to the country of Larike, and here in the interior to the west of the river Namados is a mart of commerce, the city of Barygaza .. 113° 15′ 17° 20′

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63 To the east of the river :— Agrinagara . . . 118° 15′ 22° 30′ Siripalla . . . 118° 30′ 21° 30′ Bammogoura . .. 116° 20° 45′ Sazantion .. .. . 115° 30′ 20° 30′ Zerogerei . . . 116° 20′ 19° 50′ Ozene, the capital of Tiastanes . 117° 20° Minagara .. .. .. 115 10′ 19° 30′ Tiatoura . .. . 115° 50′ 18° 50′ Nasika . . 114° 17°

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64. The parts farther inland are possessed by the Poulindai Agriophagoi, and beyond them are the Khatriaioi, to whom belong these cities, lying some east and some west of the Indus :— Nigranigramma .. .. 124° 28° 15′

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Antakhara .. .. .. 122° 27° 20′ Soudasanna .. .. 123° 26° 50′ Syrnisika .. .. .. 121° 26° 30′ Patistama .. .. .. 121° 25° Tisapatinga .. .. 123° 24° 20′

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65. But again, the country between Mount Sardonyx and Mount Bettigo belongs to the Tabasoi, a great race, while the country beyond them as far as the Vindhya range, along the eastern bank of the Namados, belongs to the Prapiotai, who include the Rhamnai, and whose towns are these :—

The Classical Accounts of India c16: IX. Ptolemy

Contents

IX. Ptolemy

IX. Ptolemy's Geography of India and Southern Asia

I. Introduction

II. Text

Cites (26)