Far-reaching Hellenistic geographical knowledge hidden in Ptolemy’s data

IF 1 Q4 MECHANICS

Mathematics and Mechanics of Complex Systems Pub Date : 2018-07-26 DOI:10.2140/MEMOCS.2018.6.181

L. Russo

引用次数: 1

Abstract

The paper summarizes and discusses the main theses exposed in a previous book (L' America dimenticata, Mondadori Universita, 2013 [in Italian]) in light of more recent results. Specifically, the work addresses the problem of explaining the origin of the systematic error on longitudes in Ptolemy's Geographia and its logical relation with the reduced estimate for the dimension of the Earth there given. The thesis is sustained that, conversely to a frequently advanced conjecture, the shrinking of the dimension of the Earth is a consequence of the scale error on the longitudes, which, in turn, was originated by a misidentification of the Islands of the Blessed. The location of the Islands of the Blessed according the source of Ptolemy is identified in the Caribbean. The analysis of a passage by Pliny provides an independent and quantitative confirmation of the proposed identification, which sheds new light on possible contact among civilizations.

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深远的希腊地理知识隐藏在托勒密的数据中

本文总结并讨论了前一本书(L' America dimenticata, Mondadori Universita, 2013[意大利语])中暴露的主要论文，并结合了最近的研究结果。具体地说，这项工作解决了解释托勒密的《地理学》中经度系统误差的起源问题，以及它与那里给出的地球尺寸缩减估计的逻辑关系。与经常提出的猜想相反，这个论点得到了支持，即地球尺寸的缩小是经度刻度误差的结果，而经度刻度误差又源于对受祝福岛屿的错误识别。根据托勒密的来源，受祝福的岛屿的位置被确定在加勒比海。对普林尼的一篇文章的分析为提出的鉴定提供了独立和定量的证实，这为文明之间可能的接触提供了新的线索。

本文章由计算机程序翻译，如有差异，请以英文原文为准。

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来源期刊

Mathematics and Mechanics of Complex Systems MECHANICS-

CiteScore

3.00

自引率

5.30%

发文量

期刊介绍： MEMOCS is a publication of the International Research Center for the Mathematics and Mechanics of Complex Systems. It publishes articles from diverse scientific fields with a specific emphasis on mechanics. Articles must rely on the application or development of rigorous mathematical methods. The journal intends to foster a multidisciplinary approach to knowledge firmly based on mathematical foundations. It will serve as a forum where scientists from different disciplines meet to share a common, rational vision of science and technology. It intends to support and divulge research whose primary goal is to develop mathematical methods and tools for the study of complexity. The journal will also foster and publish original research in related areas of mathematics of proven applicability, such as variational methods, numerical methods, and optimization techniques. Besides their intrinsic interest, such treatments can become heuristic and epistemological tools for further investigations, and provide methods for deriving predictions from postulated theories. Papers focusing on and clarifying aspects of the history of mathematics and science are also welcome. All methodologies and points of view, if rigorously applied, will be considered.