Ptolemy’s Secrets

Ptolemy’s Geography is a rather extensive work and we have only began to scratch its surface.  In order, to dig a little deeper, we asked ourselves whether or not there are places listed in Geography that could conceivably be Slavic or related to the Veneti.  We went through the entire book starting with the East (Books V, VI and VII).  Most of these are likely simply Indoeuropean but since the exercise is fun, bear with us.  We start with Book V.  The others we leave for later if there is interest.

Book V

Chapter 1
(Pontus and Bithynia)

  • Prusias (in Bithynia)
  • Bogdomanis region
  • Libyssa
  • Prusa on the Hypius river
  • Prusa near Mount Olympus

Chapter 2
(Asia)

  • Assus
  • Lebedus
  • Lycus river
  • Iasus
  • Juliogordus (town in Lydia)
  • Nysa (town in Lydia)
  • Sala

Chapter 3
(Lycia)

  • Cragus Mountains
  • Podalia
  • Nysa
  • Megiste island

Chapter 4
(Galatia)

  • Zagorum
  • Olgassys mountains
  • Zagira (Paphlagonian town)
  • Sacora (Paphlagonian town)
  • Germanicopolis (!)

Here it is also worth mentioning that “[i]n the interior of Paphalgonia toward the west are the Tolistobogi, whose towns are” among others:

  • Germa colonia
  • Vindia
  • Tolastochora

Chapter 5
(Pamphylia)

  • Syedra
  • Lysinia
  • Milyas
  • Prostama
  • Adada
  • Olbasa
  • Dyrzela

Chapter 6
(Cappadocia)

  • Iasonium promontory
  • Cotyora
  • Ischopolis
  • Scordiscus [Scordisci were supposedly Celts that lived in modern day Serbia]
  • Piala
  • Zela
  • Sarvena
  • Odoga [think Ladoga]
  • Maroga
  • Siva
  • Sobara
  • Olbasa
  • Siala
  • Ladana
  • Zimara
  • Orsa [think Orsza]
  • Iassus
  • Nyssa

Chapter 7
(Cilicia)

  • Issicus bay
  • Cydnus river
  • Issus
  • Olbasa
  • Castabala

Chapter 8
(Asiatic Sarmatia)

on the Pontus:

  • Sinda village
  • Oenathia [Venethia?]
  • Udon river [Don? Odin?]

“Its cattle feed in the Sarmatian meadow lands in the region near the unknown land of Hyperborean Sarmatia; and below these are the Basilici Sarmatians; and the Modoca race; and the Hippophagi Sarmatians; and below these are the Zacatae Sarmatians; the Suardeni and the Asaei; then next to the northern bend of the Tanais river are the Perierbidi, a great race near the southern race of the Iaxamatae.”

Other tribes listed:

  • Nesioti
  • Siraceni
  • Psessi

“Between the Rha river and the Hippici mountains is the Mithridatis region; below which are Melanchlani, then the Amazones; and between the Hippici mountains and the Cerauni mountains are the Suani and the Sacani; moreover between the Cerauni mountains and the Rha river are the Orinei, the Vali, and the Serbi; between the Caucasus mountains and the Cerauni mountains are the Tusci and the Diduri; and near the Caspioan sea are the Udae, the Alontae, the Isondae, and the Gerri… and the Suanocolchi.  The towns and villages on the lesser Rhombitus river are: Axaraba… Suruba… Nasunia”

Chapter 9
(Colchis)

“The Lazi occupy the maritime coast of Colchis”

Chapter 10
(Iberia)

  • Lubium village
  • Varica
  • Zalissa

Chapter 11
(Albania)

  • Adiabla
  • Ablana
  • Osica
  • Baruca
  • Chabala
  • Chobota
  • Boziata

Chapter 12
(Armenia Major)

  • Gordyaei mountains
  • Lychnitis lake
  • Lala
  • Ptusa
  • Choluata
  • Thalina
  • Sana
  • Brizaca
  • Cubina
  • Codana
  • Cachura
  • Zaruana
  • Babila
  • Gordyene
  • Cholimma
  • Sardeva [unusual outside of Dacia]

Chapter 13
(Cyprus)

  • Chytrus [:-)]

Chapter 14
(Syria)

  • Germanicia [!]
  • Deba
  • Pagrae
  • Batna
  • Iabruda
  • Lysinia
  • Saana
  • Adra
  • Danaba
  • Atera
  • Gerrha

Chapter 15
(Palestina or Judaea)

  • Ascalon
  • Iamnia
  • Lydda
  • Sebaste
  • Bedoro

Chapter 16
(Arabia Petraea)

  • Lysa
  • Gubba
  • Auara [Avara?]
  • Adru
  • Ziza
  • Adra

Chapter 17
(Mesopotamia)

  • Chabora
  • Zitha
  • Deba
  • Bithias
  • Edessa
  • Sinna
  • Gorbatha

Chapter 18
(Arabia Deserta)

  • Addara
  • Save

Chapter 19
(Babylonia)

  • Duraba
  • Volgaesia

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March 9, 2017

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