Geography Book 3.5-6

Ptolemy's Geography gives the Scythian shelf a different kind of large source: not narrative, but coordinates, peoples, rivers, towns, mountains, and coastal sequence. European Sarmatia and Taurica preserve the technical geography of the northern Black Sea and Pontic-Caspian field.

This page is useful as a gazetteer witness. The LacusCurtius page itself warns that Stevenson's 1932 English rendering is poor, so this archival text should be read as a navigational source base to be corrected against Greek and modern cartographic scholarship, not as a polished Good Works Translation.

This archival text presents the public-domain Stevenson English edition preserved by LacusCurtius. It is not a new Good Works Translation from Greek.

Text

Book III, Chapter 5

Location of European Sarmatia (from the Eighth Map of Europe)

European Sarmatia is terminated on the north by the Sarmatian ocean adjoining the Venedicus bay and by a part of the unknown land, a description of which is the following:

| Place | Longitude | Latitude |

|---|---:|---:|

| mouth of the Chronus river | 50*00 | 56°00 |

| mouth of the Rubonis river | 53*00 | 57°00 |

| mouth of the Turuntus river | 56*00 | 58°30 |

| mouth of the Chesinus river | 58*30 | 59°30 |

The terminus of its seacoast is located on that parallel extending thru Thule,

| Place | Longitude | Latitude |

|---|---:|---:|

| which parallel is the terminus of the known sea | 62*00 | 63°00 |

The terminus of Sarmatia, which extends southward thru the sources of the Tanais river

| Place | Longitude | Latitude |

|---|---:|---:|

| is | 64*00 | 63°00 |

It is terminated in the west by the Vistula river and by that part of Germania lying between its source and the Sarmatian mountains but not by the mountains themselves, the position of which has been indicated; on the south by Iazyges Metanastae then from the southern terminus of the Sarmatian mountains

| Place | Longitude | Latitude |

|---|---:|---:|

| to the beginning of the Carpathian mountains which is in | 46*00 | 48°30 |

and by the following part of Dacia along that parallel up to the mouth of the Borysthenes river, and the shore of the Pontus which is near the Carcinitus river; then along the seacoast are:

| Place | Longitude | Latitude |

|---|---:|---:|

| mouth of the Borysthenes river | 57*30 | 48°30 |

| mouth of the Hypanis river | 58*00 | 48°30 |

| Hecates forest, promontory | 58*30 | 47°45 |

| Isthmus of Cursus Achilles | 59*00 | 47°40 |

The western promontory of the Isthmus of Achilles is called

| Place | Longitude | Latitude |

|---|---:|---:|

| Sacred promontory | 57*50 | 47°30 |

The eastern promontory is called

| Place | Longitude | Latitude |

|---|---:|---:|

| Mysaris promontory | 59*45 | 47°30 |

| Cephalonensus | 59*45 | 47°50 |

| Pulcher harbor | 59*30 | 47°45 |

| Tamyrace | 59*20 | 48°30 |

| mouth of the Carcinitus river | 59*40 | 48°30 |

Next is the isthmus separating the Tauric peninsula, the terminus of which is on the Carcinitus bay in the

| Place | Longitude | Latitude |

|---|---:|---:|

| position | 60*20 | 48°20 |

| which is near Lake Byce | 60*30 | 48°30 |

On the east Sarmatia is bounded by the isthmus which is near the Carcinitus river,

| Place | Longitude | Latitude |

|---|---:|---:|

| which is near Lake Byce | 60*30 | 48°30 |

Maeotis which extends as far as the Tanais river, then by the Tanais river, and by the line which extends from the sources of the Tanais river toward the unknown land as far as the indicated terminus.

This side is thus described from the isthmus which is near the Carcinitus river and along Lake Maeotis:

| Place | Longitude | Latitude |

|---|---:|---:|

| Neontichus | 60*30 | 48°40 |

| mouth of the Pasiacus river | 60*20 | 49°30 |

| Lianum town | 60*00 | 49°15 |

| mouth of the Byce river | 60*20 | 49°30 |

| Acra town | 60*30 | 49°40 |

| mouth of the Gerrhus river | 61*00 | 49°50 |

| Cnema town | 62*30 | 49°45 |

| Agarum promontory | 63*00 | 49°40 |

| mouth of the Agarus river | 62*30 | 50°30 |

| Dark woodland, Piscatura Dei | 62*40 | 51°15 |

| mouth of the Lycus river | 63*00 | 51°30 |

| Hygres town | 63*30 | 52°30 |

| mouth of the Poritus river | 64*30 | 53°00 |

| Caroca village | 65*00 | 53°30 |

| western mouth of the Tanais river | 66*20 | 54°20 |

| eastern mouth | 67*00 | 54°30 |

| Bend of the river | 72*30 | 56°00 |

| Source of the river | 64*00 | 58°00 |

Above this the terminus, which I have mentioned, near the unknown land,

| Place | Longitude | Latitude |

|---|---:|---:|

| the location of which is | 64*00 | 63°00 |

Sarmatia is divided by other mountains, which are called

| Place | Longitude | Latitude |

|---|---:|---:|

| Peuce mountains | 51*00 | 51°00 |

| Amadoci mountains | 55*00 | 51°00 |

| Bodinus mountains | 58*00 | 55°00 |

| Alanus mountains | 62*30 | 55°00 |

| Carpathian mountains as we call them | 46*00 | 48°30 |

| Venedici mountains | 47*30 | 55°00 |

| Ripaei, the middle of which is in | 63*00 | 57°30 |

| Place | Longitude | Latitude |

|---|---:|---:|

| The part of the Borysthenes river which is near Amodoca lake is in | 53*30 | 50°20 |

| Place | Longitude | Latitude |

|---|---:|---:|

| The source of the Borysthenes river more toward the north is in | 52*00 | 53°00 |

Of the rivers which are below the Borysthenes

| Place | Longitude | Latitude |

|---|---:|---:|

| the Tyras separates parts of Dacia and Sarmatia at the bend which is located in | 53*00 | 48°30 |

The Axiaces river flows thru Sarmatia not far above Dacia, and from the Carpathian mountains.

The Greater Venedae races inhabit Sarmatia along the entire Venedicus bay; and above Dacia are the Peucini and the Basternae; and along the entire coast of Maeotis are the Iazyges and the Rhoxolani; more toward the interior from these are the Amaxobii and the Scythian Alani.

Lesser races inhabit Sarmatia near the Vistula river.

Below the Venedae are the Gythones, then the Finni, then the Sulones; below whom are the Phrungundiones; then the Avarini near the source of the Vistula river; below these are the Ombrones, then the Anartophracti, then the Burgiones, then the Arsietae, then the Saboci, then the Piengitae and the Biessi near the Carpathian mountains.

Among those we have named to the east: below the Venedae are the Galindae, the Sudini, and the Stavani, extending as far as the Alauni; below these are the Igylliones, then the Coestoboci and the Transmontani extending as far as the Peuca mountains.

Back from the Ocean, near the Venedicus bay, the Veltae dwell, above whom are the Ossi; then more toward the north the Carbones and toward the east are the Careotae and the Sali; below whom are the Gelones, the Hippopodes and the Melanchlaeni; below these are the Agathyrsi; then the Aorsi and the Pagyritae; then the Savari and the Borusci to the Ripaeos mountains; then the Acibi and the Nasci; below whom are the Vibiones and the Idrae; and below the Vibiones bordering on the Alauni are the Sturni, and between the Alauni and the Amaxobii are the Cariones and the Sargati; near the bend of the Tanis river are the Ophlones and then the Tanaitae; below whom are the Osili extending as far as Rhoxolanis; between the Amaxobii and the Rhoxolani are the Rheucanali and the Exobygitae; and between the Peucini and the Basternae are the Carpiani, above whom are the Gevini, then the Bodini; between the Basternae and the Rhoxolani are the Chuni, and below the mountains named from these are the Amadoci and the Navari.

Near Lake Byce dwell the Toreccadae, and near Achilles Cursus the Tauroscythae; below the Basternae near Dacia are the Tigri and below these are the Tyrangitae. Below the bend of the Tanais river are located:

| Place | Longitude | Latitude |

|---|---:|---:|

| the Altars of Alexander | 63*00 | 57°00 |

| and the Altars of Caesar | 68*00 | 56°30 |

| and on the shore of the river is Tanais town | 67*00 | 54°40 |

The inland towns in the river regions around the Carcinitus river are:

| Place | Longitude | Latitude |

|---|---:|---:|

| Carcina town | 59*30 | 48°45 |

| Torocca | 58*30 | 49°00 |

| Pasyris | 58*30 | 49°10 |

| Ercabum | 58*30 | 49°15 |

| Tracana | 58*30 | 49°45 |

| Navarum | 58*30 | 50°00 |

Along the Borysthenes river are:

| Place | Longitude | Latitude |

|---|---:|---:|

| Azagarium | 56*00 | 50°40 |

| Amadoca | 56*00 | 50°30 |

| Sarum | 56*00 | 50°15 |

| Serimum | 57*00 | 50°00 |

| Metropolis | 56*30 | 49°30 |

| Olbia or Borysthenes | 57*00 | 49°00 |

| above the Axiaces river, Ordessus | 57*00 | 48°30 |

And near the river which flows into the Borysthenes:

| Place | Longitude | Latitude |

|---|---:|---:|

| Leinum town | 54*00 | 50°15 |

| Sarbacum | 55*00 | 50°00 |

| Niossum | 56*00 | 49°40 |

Above the Tyras river near Dacia:

| Place | Longitude | Latitude |

|---|---:|---:|

| Carrodunum | 49*30 | 48°40 |

| Maetonium | 51*00 | 48°30 |

| Clepidava | 52*30 | 48°40 |

| Vibantavarium | 53*30 | 48°40 |

| Eractum | 53*50 | 48°40 |

The island located near the mouth of the Tanais river is

| Place | Longitude | Latitude |

|---|---:|---:|

| Alopecia or Tanais island | 66*30 | 53°30 |

Book III, Chapter 6

Location of the Tauric peninsula (from the Eighth Map of Europe)

The Tauric peninsula is bounded by the isthmus which extends from the Carcenites bay to Lake Byce, then by the coast of the Pontus Euxinus, of the Cimmerian Bosphorus, and of Lake Maeotis, a description of which coasts is the following:

Next, after the isthmus, which is near the Carcenites river flowing into the Pontus:

| Place | Longitude | Latitude |

|---|---:|---:|

| Eupatoria town | 60*45 | 47°40 |

| Dandace | 60*45 | 47°20 |

| Symbolon harbor | 61*00 | 47°15 |

| Parthenium promontory | 60*40 | 47°00 |

| Chersonesus | 61*00 | 47°00 |

| Ctenus harbor | 61*15 | 47°10 |

| Criumetopon promontory | 62*00 | 46°40 |

| Charax | 62*00 | 46°50 |

| Lagyra | 62*30 | 47°00 |

| Corax promontory | 63*00 | 47°00 |

| mouth of the Istrianus river | 63*10 | 47°10 |

| Theodosia | 63*20 | 47°20 |

| Nymphaeum | 63*45 | 47°30 |

On the Cimmerian Bosporus:

| Place | Longitude | Latitude |

|---|---:|---:|

| Tyrictace | 63*30 | 47°40 |

| Panticapaea | 64*00 | 47°55 |

| Myrmecium promontory | 64*00 | 48°30 |

On Lake Maeotis:

| Place | Longitude | Latitude |

|---|---:|---:|

| Parthenium | 63*45 | 48°30 |

| the Chersonesus of Zeno | 63*00 | 48°45 |

| Heracleum | 62*00 | 48°30 |

Inland towns which are in the Tauric peninusla:

| Place | Longitude | Latitude |

|---|---:|---:|

| Taphrus | 60*40 | 48°15 |

| Tarona | 62*20 | 48°15 |

| Postigia | 63*00 | 48°15 |

| Parosta | 61*30 | 48°10 |

| Cimmerium | 62*00 | 48°00 |

| Portacra | 61*50 | 47°40 |

| Boeon | 62*50 | 47°45 |

| Iluratum | 63*20 | 47°45 |

| Satarche | 61*15 | 47°20 |

| Badatium | 61*30 | 47°30 |

| Cytaeum | 62*15 | 47°30 |

| Tazus | 62*40 | 47°30 |

| Argoda | 61*45 | 47°15 |

| Tabana | 62*20 | 47°15 |

Colophon

This archival text reproduces Ptolemy, Geography 3.5-6, from the public-domain Stevenson English edition preserved by LacusCurtius. Web navigation was removed while preserving the coordinate-gazetteer structure.

Compiled and formatted for the Good Work Library by the New Tianmu Anglican Church, 2026.

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