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"Strabo" ("squinty") was a term employed by the Romans for anyone whose eyes were distorted or deformed. The father of Pompey was called " Pompeius Strabo." A native of Sicily so clear sighted that he could see things at great distance as if they were nearby was also called "Strabo."The most significant figure by this name, however, was Strabo (born 63 BC or 64 BC, died ca. 24 AD), a Greek historian, geographer and philosopher. Nowadays, Strabo is mostly famous for his Geographia, a 17-book work containing history and descriptions of people and places all over the world as known to him.
Strabo was born in a wealthy family from Amaseia (current-day Amasya, Turkey) in Pontus, which became part of the Roman empire just around the time of his birth. He studied under various geographers and philosophers, first in his own area, later in Rome. He was philosophically a stoicist, politically a proponent of Roman imperialism. Later he made extensive travels to among others Egypt and EthiopiaThe Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia Ityop'iya Amharic ) is a country of northeastern Africa. It has one of the most extensive known histories as an independent nation in the continent. Unique among African countries, the Ethiopian monarchy maintai. It is not known when he wrote his Geographia though remarks in it place the finished version in the reign of Emperor TiberiusTiberius Claudius Nero Caesar ( November 16, 42 BC March 16, AD 37) was the second Roman emperor of the Julio-Claudian dynasty, ruling from AD 14 until his death. Tiberius was by birth a Claudian—son of Tiberius Claudius Nero and Livia—and was the adopted; some place its first drafts around 7 ADCenturies: 1st century BC 1st century 2nd century Decades: 40s BC 30s BC 20s BC 10s BC 0s BC 0s 10s 20s 30s 40s 50s Years: 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 Events The Illyrians revolt against Roman rule. Strabo writes Geographia (some claimed around AD 18). Panno, others around 18 ADAlternate uses, see 18 (number Centuries: 1st century BC 1st century 2nd century Decades: 30s BC 20s BC 10s BC 0s BC 0s 10s 20s 30s 40s 50s 60s Years: 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 Events Strabo writes Geographia (or 7). Tiberius and Germanicus are Rom. The death of Juba, king of Maurousia is mentioned, an event which took place in 23 ADAlternate uses, see Number 23 Centuries: 1st century BC 1st century 2nd century Decades: 20s BC 10s BC 0s BC 0s 10s 20s 30s 40s 50s 60s 70s Years: 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 Events Greek geographer Strabo publishes Geography a work covering the worl.
Strabo's Historia is lost: Strabo quotes it himself, and other classical authors mention that it existed. All that we have of it is a fragment of papyrus now at the University of Milan (renumbered P[apyrus] 46).
Several different dates have been proposed for Strabo's death, most of them placing it shortly after 23.
The Geographia is an extensive work in Greek, spanning 17 volumes, and can be regarded as an encyclopedia of the geographical knowledge of his time. He also gives a history of geography, thus giving us information about various older geographers whose works have not survived. Some thirty manuscripts of Geographia or parts of it have survived, almost all of them medieval copies of copies, though there are fragments from papyrus rolls which were probably copied out ca AD 100 - 300. Scholars have struggled for a century and a half to produce an accurate edition close to what Strabo wrote. A definitive one has been in publication since 2002, appearing at a rate of about a volume a year.
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Ancient Greeks
Roman era geographers
1st century BC births
1st century deaths
