Posidonius and the Circumference of the Earth

Author(s): I. E. Drabkin
Source: Isis, Vol. 34, No. 6 (Autumn, 1943), pp. 509-512
Published by: The University of Chicago Press on behalf of The History of Science Society
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The Origin and Earliest History of Falconry

have learned hawking from them. We know that
they did introduce stirrups and spurs into Europe,
so why might they not have brought falconry with
them also? Or again the Huns and Alans, both
peoples of Oriental origin and inhabitants of
steppes, born riders and huntsmen, might have
spread the sport, or at least given it an impetus
when they reached Italy in the 5th century. In
any case, it will be granted as more likely that
either the Romans-through service in their eastern colonies-or the Germans-through contact
with eastern peoples on their migrations-learned
and copied the sport from Orientals, than that the

509

Germans invented and fostered hawking during

this period.2

The Society of Fellows

Harvard University
92I ask my readerswho are able to contributeany new
material in the subject covered in this paper, to send
it to the Editor of Isis, for publicationamong the Notes. I
have gathered material for another paper on "Falconry
duringthe early Middle Ages,"which will deal with Central
Europe (the Churchand falconry;Carolingianfalconry,etc.),
with England before the Norman Conquest, Scandinavia,
Russia and the Near East up to the 12th century;I hope to
publishit after the war. I wouldappreciateany contributions
and suggestionssent to me at: 42 East Manning Street,
Providence,R. I.

POSIDONIUS AND THE CIRCUMFERENCE OF THE EARTH

By I. E. DRABKIN
IN a well-known passage (I.10) CLEOMEDES exand
plains the methods used by ERATOSTHENES
POSIDONIUSfor the determination of the circumference of the earth. The procedure is to find the
difference in latitude between two places on the
same meridian, measure the terrestrial distance
between these places, and thus find the measure
of 10 and of the whole circumference.
Whether the heavenly body used for the determination of the difference in latitude be the
procedure, or
sun, as it was in ERATOSTHENES'
some other star-PosIDONIUS used the star Canopus-the method is fundamentally the same.
In all probability a similar procedure had been
used by "the mathematicians" who, ARISTOTLE
tells us (De Caelo 298a16), arrived at the figure
400,000 stades, and by those who, according to
ARCHIMEDES (Sand ReckonerI.8), made the circumference 300,000 stades.
Now, in the passage to which we have referred,
CLEOMEDESasserts that ERATOSTHENESreached
the result 250,000 stades' on the basis of a difference of latitude of 7%Y (or %0 of a circumference) between Alexandria and Syene and a
terrestrial distance of 5000 stades between these
two cities.
In the same passage we are told that PosiDONIUS, on the basis of a difference of latitude of
7%0 (%8 of a circumference) between Rhodes
and Alexandria, concluded2 that "the circumference of the earth is 240,000 stades, if the distance from Rhodes to Alexandria is 5000 stades;
but if this distance is different, the circumference
will also be proportionately different." (CLEOMEDES, p. 94.19 ZIEGLER.)

Now STRBo, whose temporal relation to CLEObe determined, tells us (p. 95 CA102) that POSIDONIusestimated the
circumference of the earth at about 180,000 stades.
STRBo speaks of this estimate as "one of the more
recent measurements, the one that makes the
earth smallest."
There has been much discussion of these two
divergent measurements ascribed to POSIDONIUS
and attempts have been made to explain the
discrepancy on the basis of (1) two different
measurements for the distance from Rhodes to
Alexandria, or (2) two different measurements of
the stade.
The first explanation supposes that the circumference of 240,000 stades is based on a measurement of 5000 stades for the distance from Rhodes
to Alexandria, while that of 180,000 stades is
based on a measurement of 3750 for this distance,
the difference in latitude being 7%O. Certainly
some color is lent to this line of explanation by the
words of CLEOMEDES quoted above: "but if this
distance is different, the circumference will also be
proportionately different."
There is, however, at least a prima facie difficulty with this explanation. The figure 3750, if it
is derived from ERATOSTHENES, is a deduction
from an observed difference in latitude of 5 %0 or
5 5/1 0, taken in conjunction with ERATOSTHENES'
measure of the circumference, 250,000 or 252,000
stades.8 POSIDONIUS would, in this case, be asserting a measurement of the circumference (180,000
MEDES cannot
SAUBON; cf. p.

3 STRABO,P. 125 CAS.: "The voyage from Rhodesto Alexandriawith the north wind is about 4000 stades, while the
voyage along the coast is twice as long. Now ERATOSTHENES
lThe question of the origin of the correctionto 252,000 tells us that this is a sailor'sestimate of the length of the
trip,somegivingthe aforesaidfigure,and othersnot hesitating
stades does not concernour present inquiry.
2Te wordsof CLEOMEDEsare not a direct quotationfrom to put the figureat 5000 stades. But he says that by using0
sundials he found the distance to be 3750 stades."
but seem to representthe latter's argument.
POSIDONIUs

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I. E. Drabkin

510
SLIN

E ~~~A

stades) on the basis of a figure itself based on an

entirely different measurement of the circumference (250,000 or 252,000 stades).
Now a very plausible answer was given to this
was not
objection.' It was held that POSIDONIUS
attempting to give definitive geographical results
but merely hypothetical examples of method, that
his interest was not that of the professional geographer seeking the most precise measurement, but
rather that of the teacher of philosophy and
science demonstrating the basic methodology involved. If this is the case, it would be quite in
order for him to say that, on the assumption of a
difference of 7% 0 in latitude between Rhodes and
Alexandria, the circumference of the earth is
240,000 stades if the distance between the two
cities is 5000 stades, while the circumference is
180,000 stades if the distance between the cities
is 3750 stades. There is, in this view, no reason
to reconcile the two divergent estimates of the
circumference ascribed to POSIDONIusnor to require that he use the data of his examples (e.g.,
the distance of 3750 stades between Rhodes and
Alexandria) in the same framework in which they
happen to have been historically discovered.
and HIPPARCHUS had, to be
ERATOSTHENES
sure, reached a far more accurate determination
of the difference in latitude between the two cities.
But those who view the problem in the manner
I have indicated might hold that it was precisely
in order to give a simple example of method for
sacrificing astronon-specialists that POSIDONIUS,
nomical accuracy, took the elevation of Canopus
at Rhodes to be zero." For in estimating the dif4Perhaps first by J. A. LETRONNE. See H. BERGER,Gesch.

ference in latitude between the two cities he would,

consequently, not have to subtract anything from
the observed elevation of the star at Alexandria.
Those who are dissatisfied with the approach
just outlined generally adopt what I have called
the second explanation. They hold that the circumference of 240,000 stades is based on a stade
of 1/% of a Roman mile, which we may call the
Eratosthenean stade, while the figure 180,000 is
based on a stade four-thirds as long, i.e. a stade
of 2//'5 of a Roman mile, the so-called Philetaerian
stade, and that consequently the two measurements are really one.'
Now few problems of Greek and Roman metrology are as tantalizing as the problem of the
length of the various stades. LEHMANN-HAUPT
in his article "Stadion" in PAULY-WISSOWA'S
Real-Encyclopddie (III [Second Series], 19301963) has shown that at least seven different
stades were in use at various times and places,
measuring, respectively, 5, 7, 7%, 8, 8%, 9, and
10 to the Roman mile. Without going into any of
the complicated problems involved, let me say
at the outset that' it is metrologically possible that
POSIDONIUS wittingly or unwittingly used the
Philetaerian stade (7? to the mile). I suspect,
however, that were it not necessary to account for
the figure 180,000, the natural assumption would
be that POSIDONIUSused the same stade as POLYBIUS (the so-called Olympic stade, 8% to the
mile), or the Italian stade (8 to the mile).'
But quite apart from this there is a serious
difficulty with the assumption that the two figures
ascribed to POSIDONIus represent the same meas-

urement in alternative standards. For both STRABO

and CLEOMEDESseem to indicate otherwise.

into the questionof POSIDONIus'

dependenceon EUDOXUS
or
anyone else for the data about Canopus.
" See e.g. H. VON MZIK, Mitteil. Geogr. Ges. Wien LVI1I
(1915), 175; F. WESTBERG, Klio XIV (1915), 344 n.;
0. VIEDEBANTT,Klio XVI (1920), 94-100; AuBREYDILLER,
Klio XXVII (1934), 258-259.
7 STRABOtells us (p. 322 CAB., cf. VII frag 56 [57J) that
most people take 8 stades to the mile, but that POLYBIUS
took 8%. See W. KUBITSCHEK, art. "Karten,"R.E. X.2081.
art. "Erdmessung,"
Suppl.VI.51.
The connection of POSIDONIus' estimate with the subsequent adoption by MARINUS and PTOLEMY of a circumference of 180,000 stades, and the effect of that choice on
later geographersincludingCOLUMBUS, are matters that lie
outside the scope of this paper. Two points may, however,
be noted. (1) The figure 180,000, however it was arrived
at by POSIDONIUS, certainlydid not involve for MARINUS and
PTOLEMY
a differenceof 7%? in latitude between Rhodes
and Alexandria.(2) While 0. CUNTZ (Die Geographiedes
d. wiss. Erdkunded. Griechen,577-582; T. L. HEATH, Aris- Ptolemaeus,110-112, 120) has made out a strong case for
tarchus, 345 f; 0. VIEDEBANrr, Klio XIV (1915), 221-232. PTOLEMY'Suse of the Italian stade (8 to the mile), the pos5 Even if allowanceis madefor the effect of refraction,the sibility of his having used the Philetaerianstade cannot be
summarilydismissed.See Geog. I. 11. 3, 12.3, and the paper
star Canopus in POSIDONIUs' time attained an elevation of
more than 1? above the horizonin the city of Rhodes (and of MZIKcited above. Again,it may be asked to what extent,
more on the rest of the island). Actually it was visible for if any, we are dealinghere with a hypotheticalstade of !Aoo
about 2? hours. It is unnecessaryfor our purpose to go of a terrestrialdegree.

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Posidoniusand the Circumferenceof the Earth

511

STRABO,as we have seen, speaks of the Posi- and %0o of a right angle) but this would not condonian estimate of 180,000 stades as "making the stitute a bar to the present conjecture."1
earth smallest." Again, when CLEOMEDESsays,
It has been suggesed"2 that POSIDONIUS
may
in the passage quoted above, wrpo ?oyov TO'V have proposed or made use of a third figure for
he can only be referring to a differ- the circumference of the earth, 300,000 stades."3
8M7vT?a/rTOS,
ence in distance, not to a difference in standard. There is no direct evidence for this and the
Though this difficulty may not be fatal to the deduction depends on a combination of two
theory proposed, for confusions in metrology are propositions of POSIDONIUS: (1) the proposition
not uncommon in ancient authors, it certainly just referred to, that the orbit of the sun is 10,000
prevents us from accepting the theory with com- times the circumference of the earth (CLEOMEDES,
plete confidence.
pp. 144-146), and (2) the proposition that the
I believe that still another approach to the sun is, roughly, 500,000,000 stades distant from
problem is possible. While CLEOMEDEStells us the earth."4
how the estimate of 240,000 stades was arrived
These propositions taken together would inat, STRABOgives us no such information about volve a measure of approximately 50,000 stades
the figure 180,000. Now it has always been as- for the radius of the earth, and, by a
rough apsumed that the general method employed was the proximation common in
non-technical
work, a
same in both cases. But may not this very ascircumference
of
300,000
stades.
sumption, from which all the difficulties arise, be
But did POSIDONIusdeduce the measure of the
unnecessary?
circumference
by using these propositions, or was
I should like to suggest that POSIDONIUSmay
the
measure
of
the circumference one of his asERATOSof
proposition
a
(1)
have combined
THENES well known to him, that the sun at the sumptions? May he, indeed, have used the propozenith casts no shadow over a circle 300 stades sitions referred to quite independently of each
in diameter (CLEOMEDES,pp. 98.5, 140.7, 144.24 other as informal examples in his teaching? I
ZIEGLER), with (2) an estimate of %0o of the cannot answer these questions, but the fact that
circumference, i.e. 36', as the apparent diameter the various possible combinations involve figures
of the sun. These data would give a terrestrial in conflict with others that are ascribed to PosiDONIUS would not, in itself, necessitate an outright
circumference of 180,000 stades (300X600).8
rejection of any of the possibilities. For PosiCLEOMEDEStells us (p. 144.24)9 that PosiDONIUS seems to me to have been at least as
DONIUSused the first proposition in combination
with an assumption that the sun's orbit was interested in giving examples of the methods of
10,000 times the earth's circumference, to arrive mathematical geography and perhaps suggesting
wide limits within which a true measure falls, as
at an estimate of 3,000,000 stades (300X10,000)
in seeking a definitive determination of that true
sun.
of
the
for the diameter
As for the second proposition, that concerned measure. It must be said, however, that the
with the sun's angular diameter, it is perhaps on ancient geographers were quite aware that their
the authority of POSIDONIUS'pupil, VARRo, that methods were at best approximative. The use of
MARTIANUSCAPELLAgives (VIII, p. 860) 36' as round numbers is but one indication of this.
In this connection it should be pointed out that
the apparent diameter of the moon.10 Better approximations had, indeed, been given by ARIS- shortly before the time of MARINUS and PTOLEMY
and ARCHIMEDES(between 1%64 there were current, apparently, estimates of the
1)
TARCHUS(%
11ARCHIMEDES,Sand Reckouner
I. 10, 16.
8 Accordingto my conjecture, AB in the figure is 300
12 F. HULTSCH, Poseidoniosiiber d. Grosse u. Entfernung
ACB= 36'. Solar parallax is neglected, as
stades and
regularlyin antiquity, the angular diameterof the sun as d. Sonne, Abh. Ges. Wiss. Gattingen,N.F. I.5 (1897), 11seen from the surfaceof the earth being used for the central 32. See also T. L. HEATH, Aristarchus,344-347.
"'This measurementwas current,as we have seen above,
angle.
I Te words of CLEOMEDES,C;,vOTrws Jp TO&s 4acZol,dPOLs
See W. KUBITSCHEK, art. "Erdin the time of ARCHIMEDES.
(27), would seemto indicatethat POSIDONIUS under- messung," R.E. Suppl. VI.33-35. There is no compelling
JX6rrcPJP
stood this figureas a datum of observationratherthan as a reason to follow BERGER in his ascriptionof the result to
See W. A. HEIDEL, The Frame of the Ancient
convenientlower limit for observabledifferencesof latitude, DICAEARCHUs.
derived from the Eratostheneanmeasureof a degree (700 Greek Maps, 113-117; 0. NEUGEBAUER,Amer. bourn.Phil.
of 20 for the angulardiameter LXII (1941), 344-347.
stades) and an approximation
14 More exactly 502,000,040."POSIDONius
holds that the
of the sun. ERATOSTHENESseemsto have taken 400 stades as
p. 87 CAS.). height to which mists and winds and clouds reach is no less
a generallimit of such observability(STRAmo,
than 40 stades from the earth's surface, that then the air
But see H. BERGER,op. cit., 410.
10For practicalpurposesthe angulardiametersof the sun becomespure, serene,and of undisturbedbrightness,that the
and moon were consideredequal (CLEOMEDES,P. 178.24). distance from the layer of clouds to the moon is 2,000,000
More precise determinationswere requiredfor astronomical stades, and from there to the sun 500,000,000 stades."
PLINY, Nat. Hist. II.85.
work (see PTOLEMY, ilmagest V. 14).

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512

I. E. Drabkin

circumference of the earth that varied considerably. PLUTARCH refers to the estimate of the
earth's radius at 40,000 stades as a sort of mean
estimate." And we have seen that STRABO speaks

of "more recent estimates" of which that of PosIDONIUSis only

one.

It must be remembered, however, that no

estimate of 300,000 stades of POSIDONIUS is ac15Ka-& TOtJs Auws dvacerpovh'ras, On the Face in the tually attested. It is the figure 180,000 that in the
Moon 925D. The roughapproximationto the circumference, first instance requires clarification and it is to
240,000, would actually be midway between the attested this end that my conjecture is directed.
estimates,180,000and 300,000.In the moreaccurateworking
out the "mean')estimate is practicallythe same as that of Institute of the History of Medicine
The Johns Hopkins University
ERATOSTHENES.

QUERIES AND ANSWERS

QUERYNo. 104. What is lucerrage?

The Augustinian monk, SEBASTI'AOMANRIQUE,

was born in Oporto, took orders at Goa in 1604,
was sent as a missionary from Goa to Arakan (NE
part of the Bay of Bengal) in 1629, travelled extensively in India and the Far East, returned to
Rome in 1643 and wrote there in Spanish an
account of his adventures; in 1669 he was murdered in London by his own Portuguese servant.
His work was written in a very poor language
(castellano desastroso) but is of considerable interest. The first edition of Itinerario de las Missiones que hizo el Padre F. Sebastian Manrique
appeared in Rome in 1649; the text was re-

chittagon

(IAA

'~~~~~~~~~
l

>

WEgPc

er
lul~~~l

(Paragri

(Psy ai)l

A'~~~k
appoximat routebeing agiven

Buthidau~~~F d:u

thai

printed in Rome in 1653. Both editions seem to be

very rare. However, the text is easily available in
the excellent translation made by Lt. Col. C. ECKFORD LUARD (d. 1927) and Father H. HOSTEN, S.J.
(Hakluyt Society, 2 vols., Oxford 1927).
In 1630 Father MAN-RIQUE travelled from
Dianga, in the northern part of the Arakan kingdom, to the capital Mrauk-u (see map borrowed
with kind permission from the Hakluyt edition)
where he fell gravely ill. His illness lasted five
months; finally the king sent him his tabibo,
or doctor (Arabic tabib) who cured him with
lucerrage. Says Father MANRIQUE (vol. 1, 165):
As we are now on the subject of this admirable root it will
not be out of place to give an account of it, first informing
the, curious reader that what we say about it we learnt from
what we saw and experienced and not from hearsay.
The Lucerrage is similar in appearance to the Tamarisk,
differing, however, in its leaves, which are broader and a
dull green below and shining green above. The plants are
from four to six palms in height, the whole plant, including
the root, being covered with a bark that looks like white
poplar. This wonderful plant grows wild in the Macassar
islands [in Celebes] and Bima [Sumbawa, near Java], whence
the best are obtained. The plant's whole value lies in its
root, which strikes always towards the north. In this the'
Divine Creator has placed such virtues as to make it as it
were a supernatural plant. For it can be used in any kind of
fever, any case of poisoning, and for the bite from any poisonous animal. This root is used by grinding it up with water
on a stone. It is then either drunk or placed on the lachrymal
gland of the eye, when it causes an expulsion of the poison.
It produces such miraculous results as to be incredible, and
I should never have dared to mention them if I had not
actually seen an experiment made. A warning must be given
that all the Lucerrage which the people of Macassar and
Bima sell secretly is not good, for good Lucerrage is only
collected on an order from the Sumbanco, a title corresponding to "Great King and Lord ruling over lesser kings."
Whenever the Sumbanco proposes to give one of these
plants to any stranger or Ambassador, he first has an example
of its effects shown to him as he did to Don PHELIPE LOBO.
This nobleman had completed the tenure of his office as
Commander-in-chief in China, and was returning via Goa,
when he was forced to take refuge at Macassar with several
ships and galleons belonging to the fleet. He was received by
the Sumbanco with the greatest pomp and ostentation, as was
his usual custom, because His Highness had always been
much attached to the Portuguese nation, with whom he had

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