1. STRABO
Daniel Gittings

2. Origins and Influences
Born between 65 and 60 BC in Amaseia in Pontus
Strabo’s family was important in the Pontic Kingdom
Aristodemos, Xenarchos, and Athenodoros
May have become interested in geography because of Tyrannion

3. Rome and Early Writings
Moved to Rome in 44 BC
Finished his studies there and was well-educated in Philology, history, geography, and philosophy
Began writing around 30 BC and his first works covered Alexander the Great and History
Can be thought of as more Historian than Geographer

4. Travels for The geography
17 book work resulted from extensive travels around the known world
”I have gone west from Armenia as far as the regions of Tyrrhenia opposite Sardo, and south from the Euxeinos as far as the boundaries of Aithiopia” (2.5.11)
Datable travels took place in 20s BC
Other small mentions of travels throughout the work

5. Ideas behind The Geography
No focus on empirical data
Consists of observations of each location including plant and animal life, topography, and appearance of the place
Confusing sequence of geographic areas
First attempt to gather all known geographic information in one work
Strabo thought this work would greatly help with politics and the military

6. Contents of the Geography
Books 1-2: Formation of the earth
Books 3,4,7: Focus on Western Mediterranean
Books 5-6: Description of Italy and Sicily
Books 8-17: Geography of his home region of Anatolia

7. Tides Tides are caused by different factors
All tides are affected by the movement of the moon
Contradicted Aristotle’s claim that the tides on the Atlantic are caused by the cliffs pushing the water back into the ocean
Criticized Poseidonius for thinking that tides affected water levels in wells
Admits that currents and tides of straits is beyond his knowledge and scope of the work

8. sources Tides: Strabo 1.3.5, 11-12; 3.2.3-4, 9
The “Geography” of Strabo: An English Translation, with Introduction and Notes. By Duane W. Roller. Cambridge and New York: Cambridge University Press, 2014.
Dueck, Daniela. “Strabōn of Amaseia.” In Keyser and Irby. Encyclopedia of Ancient Natural Scientists: The Greek Tradition and Its Many Heirs with Paul T. Keyser. Routledge, 2008.