This article is about a type of historic document. For the modern Periplus Publishing Group, see Tuttle Publishing.
A periplus (/ˈpɛrɪplʌs/), or periplous, is a manuscript document that lists the ports and coastal landmarks, in order and with approximate intervening distances, that the captain of a vessel could expect to find along a shore.[1] In that sense, the periplus was a type of log and served the same purpose as the later Roman itinerarium of road stops. However, the Greek navigators added various notes, which, if they were professional geographers, as many were, became part of their own additions to Greek geography.
The form of the periplus is at least as old as the earliest Greek historian, the Ionian Hecataeus of Miletus. The works of Herodotus and Thucydides contain passages that appear to have been based on peripli.[2]
Periplus is the Latinization of the Greek word περίπλους (periplous, contracted from περίπλοος periploos), which is "a sailing-around." Both segments, peri- and -plous, were independently productive: the ancient Greek speaker understood the word in its literal sense; however, it developed a few specialized meanings, one of which became a standard term in the ancient navigation of Phoenicians, Greeks, and Romans.
Known peripliedit
Several examples of peripli that are known to scholars:
The Massaliote Periplus, a description of trade routes along the coasts of Atlantic Europe, by anonymous Greek navigators of Massalia (now Marseille, France), possibly dates to the sixth century BCE, also preserved in Avienius[6]
Pytheas of Massilia, (fourth century BCE) On the Ocean (Περί του Ωκεανού), has not survived; only excerpts remain, quoted or paraphrased by later authors, including Strabo, Diodorus Siculus, Pliny the Elder and in Avienius' Ora maritima.[7]
The Periplus of Nearchus surveyed the area between the Indus and the Persian Gulf under orders from Alexander the Great. He was a source for Strabo and Arrian, among others.[9]
The Periplus of Scymnus of Chios is dated to around 110 BCE.[11]
The Periplus of the Erythraean Sea or Red Sea was written by a Greek of the Hellenistic/Romanized Alexandrian in the first century CE. It provides a shoreline itinerary of the Red (Erythraean) Sea, starting at the port of Berenice. Beyond the Red Sea, the manuscript describes the coast of India as far as the Ganges River and the east coast of Africa (called Azania). The unknown author of the Periplus of the Erythraean Sea claims that Hippalus, a mariner, was knowledgeable about the "monsoon winds" that shorten the round-trip from India to the Red Sea.[12] Also according to the manuscript, the Horn of Africa was called, "the Cape of Spices,"[13] and modern day Yemen was known as the "Frankincense Country."[14]
The Periplus Ponti Euxini, a description of trade routes along the coasts of the Black Sea, written by Arrian (in Greek Αρριανός) in the early second century CE.
The Stadiasmus Maris Magni, it was written by an anonymous author and is dated to the second half of the third century AD.
They listed the ports and coastal landmarks and distances along the shores.
The lost but much-cited sailing directions go back at least to the 12th century. Some described the Indian Ocean as "a hard sea to get out of" and warned of the "circumambient sea," with all return impossible.[16]
Tactic of naval combatedit
A periplus was also an ancient naval maneuver in which attacking triremes would outflank or encircle the defenders to attack them in the rear.[17]
^Dehkhoda, Ali Akbar; Moʻin, Mohammad (1958). Loghat-namehʻi Dehkhoda. Tehran: Tehran University Press: Rahnāma.
^Fernandez-Armesto, Felipe (2001). Civilizations: Culture, Ambition, and the Transformation of Nature. New York: Free Press. ISBN0-7432-0248-1.
^Briant, Pierre; Kuhrt, Amélie (2015-07-06), "Persian Wars: the Persian viewpoint", Oxford Research Encyclopedia of Classics, Oxford University Press, doi:10.1093/acrefore/9780199381135.013.4890, ISBN978-0-19-938113-5
The dictionary definition of periplus at Wiktionary
December 01, 2023
periplus, this, article, about, type, historic, document, modern, publishing, group, tuttle, publishing, periplus, periplous, manuscript, document, that, lists, ports, coastal, landmarks, order, with, approximate, intervening, distances, that, captain, vessel,. This article is about a type of historic document For the modern Periplus Publishing Group see Tuttle Publishing A periplus ˈ p ɛr ɪ p l ʌ s or periplous is a manuscript document that lists the ports and coastal landmarks in order and with approximate intervening distances that the captain of a vessel could expect to find along a shore 1 In that sense the periplus was a type of log and served the same purpose as the later Roman itinerarium of road stops However the Greek navigators added various notes which if they were professional geographers as many were became part of their own additions to Greek geography Beginning of the Periplous tou Euxeinou Pontou by Arrian of Nicomedia Johann Froben and Nicolaus Episcopius Basel 1533The form of the periplus is at least as old as the earliest Greek historian the Ionian Hecataeus of Miletus The works of Herodotus and Thucydides contain passages that appear to have been based on peripli 2 Contents 1 Etymology 2 Known peripli 2 1 Carthaginian 2 2 Greek 3 Rahnamag 4 Tactic of naval combat 5 See also 6 References 7 Bibliography 8 External linksEtymology editPeriplus is the Latinization of the Greek word periploys periplous contracted from periploos periploos which is a sailing around Both segments peri and plous were independently productive the ancient Greek speaker understood the word in its literal sense however it developed a few specialized meanings one of which became a standard term in the ancient navigation of Phoenicians Greeks and Romans Known peripli editSeveral examples of peripli that are known to scholars Carthaginian edit The Periplus of Himilco the Navigator parts which are preserved in Pliny the Elder and Avienius 3 The Periplus of Hanno the Navigator Carthaginian colonist and explorer who explored the coast of Africa from present day Morocco southward at least as far as Senegal in the sixth or fifth century BCE 4 Greek edit The Periplus of the Greek Scylax of Caryanda in Caria who allegedly sailed down the Indus River and then to Suez on the initiative of Darius I This voyage is mentioned by Herodotus and his periplus is quoted by Hecataeus of Miletus Aristotle Strabo and Avienius 5 The Massaliote Periplus a description of trade routes along the coasts of Atlantic Europe by anonymous Greek navigators of Massalia now Marseille France possibly dates to the sixth century BCE also preserved in Avienius 6 Pytheas of Massilia fourth century BCE On the Ocean Peri toy Wkeanoy has not survived only excerpts remain quoted or paraphrased by later authors including Strabo Diodorus Siculus Pliny the Elder and in Avienius Ora maritima 7 The Periplus of Pseudo Scylax generally is thought to date to the fourth or third century BCE 8 The Periplus of Nearchus surveyed the area between the Indus and the Persian Gulf under orders from Alexander the Great He was a source for Strabo and Arrian among others 9 On the Red Sea by Agatharchides Fragments preserved in Diodorus Siculus and Photius 10 The Periplus of Scymnus of Chios is dated to around 110 BCE 11 The Periplus of the Erythraean Sea or Red Sea was written by a Greek of the Hellenistic Romanized Alexandrian in the first century CE It provides a shoreline itinerary of the Red Erythraean Sea starting at the port of Berenice Beyond the Red Sea the manuscript describes the coast of India as far as the Ganges River and the east coast of Africa called Azania The unknown author of the Periplus of the Erythraean Sea claims that Hippalus a mariner was knowledgeable about the monsoon winds that shorten the round trip from India to the Red Sea 12 Also according to the manuscript the Horn of Africa was called the Cape of Spices 13 and modern day Yemen was known as the Frankincense Country 14 The Periplus Ponti Euxini a description of trade routes along the coasts of the Black Sea written by Arrian in Greek Arrianos in the early second century CE The Stadiasmus Maris Magni it was written by an anonymous author and is dated to the second half of the third century AD Rahnamag editPersian sailors had long had their own sailing guide books called Rahnamag in Middle Persian Rahnameh رهنامه in Modern Persian 15 They listed the ports and coastal landmarks and distances along the shores The lost but much cited sailing directions go back at least to the 12th century Some described the Indian Ocean as a hard sea to get out of and warned of the circumambient sea with all return impossible 16 Tactic of naval combat editA periplus was also an ancient naval maneuver in which attacking triremes would outflank or encircle the defenders to attack them in the rear 17 See also editList of Graeco Roman geographersReferences edit Kish George 1978 A Source Book in Geography Cambridge Harvard University Press p 21 ISBN 0 674 82270 6 Shahar Yuval 2004 Josephus Geographicus The Classical Context of Geography in Josephus Mohr Siebeck p 40 ISBN 3 16 148256 5 Nicholas Purcell Himilco in Oxford Classical Dictionary 3rd ed Oxford Oxford University Press 1999 p 707 The Periplus of Hanno a voyage of discovery down the west African coast Translated by Schoff H 1912 OL 6541953M Scylax in OCD3 p 1374 Periploi in OCD3 p 1141 Pytheas in OCD3 p 1285 Scylax in OCD3 p 1374 Periploi in OCD3 p 1141 Agatharchides in OCD3 p 36 Scymnus in OCD3 p 137436 Liu 2010 p 34 Liu 2010 p 36 Liu 2010 p 37 Dehkhoda Ali Akbar Moʻin Mohammad 1958 Loghat namehʻi Dehkhoda Tehran Tehran University Press Rahnama Fernandez Armesto Felipe 2001 Civilizations Culture Ambition and the Transformation of Nature New York Free Press ISBN 0 7432 0248 1 Briant Pierre Kuhrt Amelie 2015 07 06 Persian Wars the Persian viewpoint Oxford Research Encyclopedia of Classics Oxford University Press doi 10 1093 acrefore 9780199381135 013 4890 ISBN 978 0 19 938113 5Bibliography editLiu Xinru 2010 The Silk Road in World History New York Oxford University Press ISBN 978 0 195 33810 2 External links edit nbsp The dictionary definition of periplus at Wiktionary Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Periplus amp oldid 1181055998, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
