Rome Beyond The Frontiers

[Andrew Dalby]

...

2. The 'Navigation of Hanno' the Carthaginian, mentioned by Polybius, the report of which survives as a separate Greek text. Hanno, according to his own claim, got well down the west coast, possibly to the region of Sierra Leone. I wonder if this is what you are referring to, Fl. Val. C.? Because I never heard of Polybius himself going on such a wild voyage, he wasn't that kind of fellow. I could quite believe that Pliny copied the information from Polybius in a confusing way ...

 

From Pliny the Elder's Natural History writing in Chapter 1 on "The Two Mauritanias":

 

While Scipio

[Andrew Dalby]

At least one party in the mid 2nd century AD arrived somewhere around Canton, travelled north to the Chinese capital, and claimed to be an embassy from the Roman emperor.

 

So that's where it came from, I've heard this before in reference to an embassy from M Aurelius, but had trouble finding evidence. Where did you find this reference ?

 

From a long distance memory of the Cary and Warmington book I cited earlier, /the ancient explorers/ (first publ 1929). They mention relations with China on page 106 (of the Pelican reprint). The 'embassies' are mentioned in Chinese sources only, they say: there were three somewhat official trips, the first reaching the Chinese court in AD 166 and claiming to represent An-dun, i.e. Marcus Aurelius Antoninus? The other two were in 226 and 284 AD.

 

They cite an older book by Hirth, /China and the Roman Orient/ (their bibliographical references are sketchy but I've heard of this Hirth). They don't cite the original Chinese annals, but I expect Hirth does ...

[FLavius Valerius Constantinus]

While Scipio

Edited January 17, 2006 by FLavius Valerius Constantinus

[Virgil61]

...

From Pliny the Elder's Natural History writing in Chapter 1 on "The Two Mauritanias":

 

While Scipio

[Pantagathus]

From Pliny the Elder's Natural History writing in Chapter 1 on "The Two Mauritanias":

 

While Scipio

[Neos Dionysos]

From Pliny the Elder's Natural History writing in Chapter 1 on "The Two Mauritanias":

 

While Scipio

[Pantagathus]

By 'Tin Isles' I assume he is speaking of Britian and Ireland?

 

Cornwall specifically. Ireland was abundant in gold but not in Tin.

 

One can assume from statements by Strabo attributed to Polybius that he made somewhat of an attempt to refute Pytheas the Massaliot's testimony by retracing Pytheas' steps (as he understood them) in some portion of the Atlantic. However from Polybius' statements via Strabo, it seems he didn't quite understand the route Pytheas took and ended up labeling him a charlatan because his experiences varied from Pytheas' testimony.

 

AD, the Cary & Worthington book you mentioned is a wonderful book old text.

Edited January 19, 2006 by Pantagathus

[Pertinax]

Cornwall certainly, possibly also some welsh activity, though that would tend to be copper the required admixture for tin .

 

http://www.roman-britain.org/maps/maps.htm

 

this link is normally excellent for maps -but he seems to be in difficulties at present.

Edited January 19, 2006 by Pertinax