The Periplus of the Erythraean Sea, by an unknown author: With some extracts from Agatharkhides 'On the Erythraean Sea' (Hakluyt Society, Second Series)

The Periplus of the Erythraean Sea is a short work of uncertain date and unknown authorship, written in very difficult Greek. It is concerned with the coasts of the Red Sea and |Indian Ocean and may be described as a combined trade directory and Admiralty Handbook, giving sailing directions and information about navigational hazards, harbours, imports and exports. It is of great value for the study of the commerce of the Roman Empire and the early history of East Africa, South Arabia and India. This is a new print-on-demand hardback edition of the volume first published in 1980. Cover 1 CONTENTS 10 ILLUSTRATIONS AND MAPS 12 PREFATORY NOTE 14 PREFACE AND ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS 16 INTRODUCTION 18 NOTE ON SOME FEATURES OF THE TRANSLATION 33 TOPOGRAPHICAL SUMMARY 34 THE PERIPLUS OF THE ERYTHRAEAN SEA 36 NOTES ON THE TEXT OF THE PERIPLUS 76 APPENDICES 95 1. THE TOPOGRAPHY OF THE PERIPLUS 95 1. THE START OF THE JOURNEY AND THE ANCIENT CANALS 95 2. SUMMARY OF THE ROUTES: 99 (1) AFRICA 101 (2) ARABIA AND INDIA 102 3. LOCAL TOPOGRAPHY: 104 I. THE AFRICAN COAST TO RHAPTA 104 II. THE ARABIAN COAST TO OMANA 118 III. THE COASTS OF PERSIA AND INDIA 124 2. THE PRODUCTS OF THE ERYTHRAEAN AREA 140 GLOSSARY OF IMPORTS AND EXPORTS: 147 I. CLOTHING MATERIAL 147 II. VEGETABLE PRODUCTS 150 III. IVORY, HORN, AND SHELL 155 IV. HARDWARE 156 V. PRECIOUS STONES 157 VI. MISCELLANEOUS 158 3. THE ETHNOLOGY AND HISTORY OF THE AREA COVERED BY THE PERIPLUS 161 4. SHIPPING 176 5. ELEPHANT-HUNTING 186 6. THE MOUNTAIN OF THE MOON 193 EXTRACTS FROM AGATHARKHIDES 'ON THE ERYTHRAEAN SEA' 197 NOTES ON AGATHARKHIDES 214 BIBLIOGRAPHY 218 INDEX OF PLACES, TRIBES, AND PERSONS NAMED IN THE TEXT 225 A 225 B 225 D 226 E 226 G 226 H 226 I 226 K 226 L 226 M 227 N 227 O 227 P 227 R 228 S 228 T 228 Z 228 INDEX OF GREEK WORDS 229 INDEX OF TRADE-GOODS 230 GENERAL INDEX 235 A 235 B 236 C 237 D 237 E 238 F 238 G 238 H 238 I 239 J 239 K 239 L 240 M 240 N 241 O 242 P 242 Q 243 R 243 S 243 T 244 U 245 V 245 W 245 X 245 Y 245 Z 245 ILLUSTRATIONS AND MAPS 12 THE DELTA OF THE INDUS 6 FIG. 1 ADULI AND THE THRONE OF PTOLEMY 38 FIG. 2 THE HARBOUR OF BERBERA (MALAO) IN 1944 43 FIG. 3 CAPE GARDAFUI (AROMATON AKRON), 1938 43 FIG. 4 RAS FILUK (CAPE ELEPHAS), 1938 45 FIG. 5 RAS SHENAGEF (TABAI AKROTERION), 1938 45 FIG. 6 EGYPTIAN SHIP USED FOR THE VOYAGE TO PUNT 177 FIG. 7 CALAWA AT DAR ES-SALAAM, 1926 (1,2); ATTACHMENT TO BOOM AND FLOAT, OUTRIGGER CANOE, ZANZIBAR, 1926 (3) 178 FIG. 8 EAST AFRICAN SEWN BOAT, INTEPE 180 FIG. 9 EAST AFRICAN DUG-OUT CANOES: (A) MTUMBWI TYPE; (B) OUTRIGGERS WITH GALAWA TYPE 181 MAP 2 SKETCH MAP OF THE ARSINOE CANAL 96 MAP 3 THE RED SEA 100 MAP 4 ADOULI AND ALALAIOU 106 MAP 5 THE STRAITS OF BAB AL-MANDAB 109 MAP 6 THE COURSES OF AZANIA 114 MAP 7 THE PURALAON ISLANDS 116 MAP 8 STATES AND KINGDOMS IN AFRICA AND ARABIA KNOWN TO THE AUTHOR OF THE PERIPLUS 119 MAP 9 INDIA AS KNOWN TO THE AUTHOR OF THE PERIPLUS 125 MAP 10 THE GULF OF CAMBAY 129 MAP 11 MOUZIRIS AND NELKUNDA 135 By An Unknown Author ; With Some Extracts From Agatharkhidēs On The Erythraean Sea ; Translated And Edited By G.w.b. Huntingford. Includes Indexes. Bibliography: P. 198-204.