Strabo

"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." See also Walahfrid Strabo and Theodoric Strabo.

Related Topics:
Pompey - Pompeius Strabo - Walahfrid Strabo - Theodoric Strabo

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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 Geographika ("Geography"), a 17-book work containing history and descriptions of people and places all over the world as known to him.

Related Topics:
63 BC - 64 BC - 24 AD - Greek - Historian - Geographer - Philosopher

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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 Ethiopia. It is not known when he wrote his Geographika though remarks in it place the finished version in the reign of Emperor Tiberius; some place its first drafts around 7 AD, others around 18 AD. The death of Juba, king of Maurousia is mentioned, an event which took place in 23 AD.

Related Topics:
Amasya, Turkey - Pontus - Roman empire - Rome - Stoicist - Egypt - Ethiopia - Tiberius - 7 AD - 18 AD - Juba - 23 AD

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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 46).

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Several different dates have been proposed for Strabo's death, most of them placing it shortly after 23 AD.

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