Strabo (; 63/64 BC – ca. AD 24) was a Greek historian, geographer and philosopher.
bo was born in a wealthy family from Amaseia in Pontus (modern Amasya Turkey), which had recently become part of the Roman Empire. His mother was Georgian. He studied under various geographers and philosophers; first in Nysa, later in Rome.
Discussion
Ask a question about 'Strabo' Start a new discussion about 'Strabo' Answer questions from other users |
Quotations
And Macedonia, of course, is a part of Greece.
Strab. VII, Frg. 9 (Loeb, H.L. Jones)
Encyclopedia
Strabo (; 63/64 BC – ca. AD 24) was a Greek historian, geographer and philosopher.
Life
Strabo was born in a wealthy family from Amaseia in Pontus (modern Amasya Turkey), which had recently become part of the Roman Empire. His mother was Georgian. He studied under various geographers and philosophers; first in Nysa, later in Rome. He was philosophically a Stoic and politically a proponent of Roman imperialism. Later he made extensive travels to Egypt and Kush, among others. It is not known when his Geography was written, though comments within the work itself place the finished version within the reign of Emperor Tiberius. Some place its first drafts around 7 AD, others around 18 AD. Last dateable mention is given to the death in 23 AD of Juba II, king of Maurousia (Mauretania), who is said to have died "just recently".
On the presumption that "recently" means within a year, Strabo stopped writing that year or the next (24 AD), when he died.
Strabo's History is nearly completely lost. Although Strabo quotes it himself, and other classical authors mention that it existed, the only surviving document is a fragment of papyrus now in possession of the University of Milan (renumbered [Papyrus] 46).
Several different dates have been proposed for Strabo's death, but most of them conclude that Strabo died shortly after 23 AD.
The Geography
Strabo is mostly famous for his 17-volume work Geographica, which presented a descriptive history of people and places from different regions of the world known to his era.
It is an important source of information on the ancient world, especially when information is corroborated by other sources. Within the books of Geographica is a map of Europe (see image at right).
External links
|
