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Book III, Chapter 1

Location of Italy
(from the Sixth Map of Europe)

Thayer's Note: Stevenson's "translation" of Ptolemy, to which this page belongs, is abysmally bad. It should not be used for any serious purpose. For details and correctives, see my Ptolemy homepage.

 p71  Italy is terminated on the west by the Alps mountains along that line, which runs, as is set down, from the Adula mountains as far as

the mouth of the Varus river, the location of which is in 27*30 43°00

then from the shore of the Tyrrhenian sea to Neapolis and to the Leucopetra promontory; on the north by the Alps mountains, which are below Raetia, and by the Caravancas mountains, which are below Noricum, the location of which has been indicated above, and likewise by the shore of the Adriatic bay which extends from the Tilaventus river to the Garganus mountains; on the east by that maritime coast which extends from Garganus mountains as far as Hydruntum; on the south by the shore of the Adriatic bay which extends from the Tilaventus river as far as the confines of Illyria, and by that coast of the Tyrrhenian and the Ligurian sea, which extends from the mouth of the Varus river as far as Neapolis, then along the seacoast from Leucopetra as far as Hydruntum.

The entire line of the seacoast is thus described from the mouth of the Varus river on the Ligurian sea:

On the coast of the Massilienses

Nicaea 28*00 43°05
Herculis harbor 28*15 42°45
Tropaea Augusti 28*30 42°30
Monoeci harbor 28*40 42°40

of Liguria, which in Greek is called Ligustice, near the Ligurian sea

Albintimilium 29*10 42°45
Albingaunum 29*30 42°45
Genua 30*00 42°50
mouth of the Entella river 30*30 42°50
Tigullia 30*35 42°55
mouth of the Macralla 31*50 42°45
where the Boacias flows into it 31*30 43°00

of the Tusci who in Greek are called Tyrrhini, near the Tyrrhenian sea, are

Luna 32*00 42°45
Luna promontory 32*00 42°40
Temple of Hercules 32*40 42°45
mouth of the Arnus river 33*20 42°40
Populonium town 33*30 42°00
Populonium promontory 33*30 42°00
Portus Trojanusº 34*00 42°10
Telamon promontory 34*15 42°00
mouth of the Osa river 34*30 42°00
Cossae 35*00 41°55
Graviscae 35*20 41°45
Castrum Novum 35*40 41°40
Pyrgi 36*00 41°40
Alsium 36*15 41°40

of the Latini on the Tyrrhenian sea

mouth of the Tiber river 36*30 41°30
where the river turns toward the west 36*30 42°00
Ostia 33*30 41°30
Antium 36*50 41°20
Clostra 37*10 41°20
Circaeum promontory 37*30 41°10
Tarracinae 37*45 41°15
Formiae 38*10 41°15

 p72  of the Campani, on the Tyrrhenian sea

mouth of the Liris river 38*20 41°15
Sinuessa 38*30 41°20
Volturnum 38*45 41°05
Liternum 39*10 41°10
Cumae 39*20 41°10
Misenum 39*30 41°00
Puteoli 39*50 41°00
Neapolis 40*00 40°55

of the Picentini, on the Tyrrhenian sea

mouth of the Sarnus river 40*05 40°55
Surentum 40*00 40°40
Salernum 40*00 40°30

of the Lucani, on the Tyrrhenian sea

mouth of the Silarus river 40*05 40°15
Paestum 40*10 40°00
Buxentum 40*00 39°30

of the Bruttii, on the Tyrrhenian sea

mouth of the Laus river 40*00 39°15
Tempsa town 40*00 39°00
Taurianus cliff 40*10 38°15​a
Hipponiates bay 40*20 39°45
Scyllaeum promontory 39*50 38°15
Rhegium Julium 39*50 39°15
Leucopetra promontory 39*50 38°00

of Magna Graecia, on the Adriatic sea

Zephyrium promontory 40*45 39°05
Locri town 40*50 38°25
mouth of the Locani river 40*55 38°35

on Scylacius bay

Scylacium town 40*45 39°40
Innermost part of Scylacium bay 40*45 39°45
Lacinium promontory 41*30 38°45

on the bay of Tarentum

Croton town 41*30 39°10
Thurium 40*55 39°30
Metapontium 40*55 39°55
Tarentum 41*30 40°00

of the Salentini

Iapygium promontory or Salentinum 42*20 38°45

of Calabria, on the Ionian sea

Hydruntum 43*00 39°05
Luspiae 42*40 39°15
Brundisium 42*30 39°40

of the Apuli Peucenti, on the Ionian sea

Egnatia 42*30 39°50
Barium 42*30 40°05
mouth of the Aufidus river 42*30 40°15

of the Apuli Dauni, on the Ionian sea

Salapia 42*20 40°20
Sipuntum 42*20 40°30
Apenestae 42*20 40°45
Garganus mountain 42*40 41°00
and near the Adriatic bay, Hyrium 42*30 41°15

of the Frentani on this bay

mouth of the Tifernus river 42*00 41°30
Buca 41*40 41°40
Istonium 41*30 41°45

of the Paeligni on the same

mouth of the Sarusº river 41*20 42°00
Ortona 40*45 42°15

of the Maurrucini on the same bay

mouth of the Aternus river 40*30 42°30
mouth of the Matrinus river 39*20 42°45

of the Piceni on the same bay

Castrum 38*30 43°00
Cupra Maritima 38*00 43°10
mouth of the Truentini river 37*40 43°20
Potentia 37*15 43°30
Numana 36*50 43°40
Ancona 36*30 43°40

of the Semnones on the same bay

mouth of the Aesis river 36*20 43°40
Sena Gallica 36*00 43°40
Fanum Fortunae 35*40 43°45
Pisaurum 35*20 43°45
Ariminum 35*00 43°50

of the Boii Galli on the same bay

mouth of the Rubicon river 34*55 43°55
Ravenna 34*40 44°00
mouth of the Padus river 34*45 44°00
where a river flows from Lario lake 29*20 44°45
where it forms one with the Dorias river 30*40 43°45
where the Dorias river flows from the Poenus lake 28*45 43°45
where a river flows into the Padus rising in Baenacus lake 31*45 43°30
position of this lake 30*30 45°00

Above the mouth of the Padus river, on the coast of Venetia

mouth of the Atrianus river 34*00 44°10

of the Carni on the Adriatic at the innermost bend of the sea

mouth of the Tilaventus river 33*00 44°50
mouth of the Natisonis river 34*00 44°50

 p73  Istria where next to the innermost bend of the sea are

Tergestrum colonia 34*30 44°55
mouth of the Formionis river 35*00 44°55
Parentium 35*20 44°55
Pola 36*00 44°40
Nesactum 36*15 44°55

The interior towns of Istria

Pacinum 34*45 45°00
Piquentum 35*30 45°05
Alvum 36*00 45°00

Interior towns of the Carni

Forum Julium colonia 32*50 44°55
Concordia colonia 33*15 44°55
Aquileia colonia 34*00 45°00

Interior towns of Venetia

Vicentia 32*10 44°30
Belunum 32*30 44°40
Acelum 32*30 44°30
Opitergium 32*40 44°45
Ateste 32*40 44°15
Patavium 32*50 44°30
Altinum 33*15 44°25
Atria 34*10 44°05

Towns of the Cenomani who are below Venetia

Bergomum 32*00 44°20
Forum Jutuntorum 31*45 44°00
Brixia 32*30 44°10
Cremona colonia 32*00 43°40
Verona 33*00 44°00
Mantua 32*45 43°40
Tridente 33*40 43°45
Butrium 34*00 43°50

Towns of the Beluni, who are toward the west of Venetia

Vaunia 31*00 44°40
Carraca 31*20 44°40
Bretina 31*40 44°45
Anaunium 31*30 44°30

Towns of the Insubres, who are toward the west from the Cenomani

Nobaria 30*30 44°30
Mediolanium 30*40 44°15
Comum 31*00 44°20
Ticinum 31*00 44°00

Towns of the Salassi, who are below the Insubres

Augusta Praetoria colonia 30*00 44°00
Eporedia 33*15 43°50

Towns of the Taurini who are below the Salassi

Augusta Taurinorum 30*30 43°40
Augusta Bagiennorum 29*30 43°20
Iria 30*00 43°20
Dertona 30*30 43°20

Towns of the Libici, who are below the Insubres

Vercellae 30*45 43°50
Laumellum 31*30 43°40

Towns of the Ceutrones in the Graian Alps

Forum Claudii 29*00 44°55
Axima 29*45 44°55

Town of the Leponti, which is in the Cottian Alps

Oscela 29*00 44°40

Town of the Caturiges in the Graian Alps

Eburodunum 29*40 44°30

Towns of the Segusani in the Graian Alps

Segusium 28*30 43°55
Brigantium 29*00 44°05

Town of the Nerusi in the Maritime Alps

Vintium 28*30 43°40

Town of the Suetri in the Maritime Alps

Salinae 28*30 43°20

Towns of the Vedianti in the Maritime Alps

Cemenelum 28*30 43°05
Sanitium 28*30 42°50

The Appennine mountains are located not far above Liguria beginning at the Alps, and from Liguria extending as far as Ancona, then turning they approach the Adriatic, and extend as far as the Garganus mountains, then turning they extend toward the south to Leucopetra promontory.

Liguria, which is located below the Appennine mountains, has the following interior towns:

Sabata 29*20 43°00
Pollentia 29*40 43°00
Asta colonia 30*20 43°05
Alba Pompeia 30*40 43°10
Libarna 31*00 43°10

Gallia Togata is located above those mountains, extending as far as Ravenna, and it has these towns:

Placentia 31*20 43°30
Fidentia 31*40 43°30
Brixellum 32*00 43°20
Parma (colonia) 32*00 43°30
Rhegium Lepidum (colonia) 32*30 43°30
Nuceria 32*30 43°20
 p74  Tanetum 33*20 43°40
Mutina 33*00 43°40
Bononia 33*30 43°30
Claterna 33*50 43°30
Forum Cornelii 34*15 43°30
Caesena 34*40 43°40
Faventia 34*20 43°45

Towns of the Tusci in the interior

Biracellum 31*45 43°10
Fossae Papirianae 32*00 42°50
Bondelia 32*30 42°50
Luca 33*00 43°10
Lucus Feroniae colonia 32*25 42°55
Pistoria 33*20 43°00
Florentia 33*50 43°00
Pisae colonia 33*30 42°45
Volaterrae 33*45 42°40
Rusellae 33*30 42°20
Faesulae 34*00 43°00
Perusia 35*20 43°30
Arretium 34*40 42°45
Cortona 35*00 42°40​b
Aculea 34*40 43°00
Biturgia 35*00 42°55
Manliana 34*30 42°40
Vetulonium 34*00 42°30
Sena 34*20 42°30
Suana 34*50 42°25
Saturniana colonia 34*00 42°20
Eba 34*30 42°15
Volci 34*40 42°10
Clusium 34*40 42°20
Volsinium 35*00 42°20
Sudernum 35*30 42°05
Ferentia 35*30 42°20
Sutrium 36*00 42°10
Tarquinia 35*15 42°00
Blera 35*40 41°55
Forum Clodii 35*55 41°55
Nepeta 36*00 41°50
Falerium 36*30 41°55
Caere 36*20 41°50

Towns of the Semnones in the interior

Suasa 35*30 43°40
Ostra 36*00 43°30

Towns of the Piceni, in the interior

Treja 36*30 42°25
Urbs Salvia 36*55 43°20
Septempeda 36*50 43°30
Cupra Montana 37*30 43°10
Firmium 37*30 42°55
Asculum 38*20 42°50
Adria 38*45 42°50

Towns of the Umbri, who are above the Tusci

Pitinum 34*40 43°15
Tifernum 34*40 43°25
Forum Sempronii 34*50 43°30
Iguvium 35*00 43°05
Aesis 35*20 43°20
Tuficum 35*30 43°05
Sentinum 36*30 42°50
Aesisium 35*20 42°45
Camerinum 36*00 43°00
Nuceria colonia 35*50 42°40

Towns of the Umbri who are toward the east of the Tusci

Arna 35*30 42°40
Hispellum 35*40 42°30
Tuder 35*50 42°20
Forum Flaminii 36*00 42°40
Spoletium 36*20 42°45
Mevania 36*15 42°30
Ameria 36*30 42°15
Narnia 36*30 42°30
Ocricolum 36*45 42°10

Town of the Sabini, who are toward the east of the Umbri,

Nursia 36*45 42°50

Towns of the Aequiculi, who are east of the Sabini

Cliternum 37*30 42°40
Carsioli 37*20 42°20

Towns of the Marsi, who are toward the east from the Aequiculi

Aex 37*40 42°30
Alba Fucinis 38*0 42°20

Towns of the Praetuti, who are toward the east from the Marsi

Beregra 38*30 42°30
Interamnia 38*20 42°20

Towns of the Vestini, who are toward the east from the Praetuti

Pinna 39*00 42°40
Avia 39*00 42°25
Amiternum 39*00 42°15
Angulus 39*30 42°30

Town of the Marucini in the interior

Teatea 39*45 42°30

Towns of the Latini in the interior

Rome 36*40 41°40
Tibur 36*50 42°00
Praeneste 37*30 41°55
Tusculum 36*50 41°45
Aricia 37*00 41°40
Ardea 36*45 41°30
Nomentum 37*30 42°05
 p75  Treba 37*30 41°45
Anagnia 37*20 41°40
Velitra 37*30 41°30
Lanuvium 37*15 41°25
Atina 38*15 42°00
Fidenae 38*00 41°55
Frusino 37*50 41°45
Ferentinum 38*00 41°40
Privernum 37*45 41°35
Setia 38*00 41°30
Aquinum 38*50 41°55
Sora 38*20 41°40
Minturna colonia 38*20 41°25
Fundi 38*10 41°20

Towns of the Peligni in the interior

Corfinium 40*00 42°20
Sulmo 40*30 42°00

Towns of the Frentani in the interior

Anxanum 41*10 41°55
Larinum 41*30 41°30

Town of the Caraceni, who are below the Frentani

Aufidena 40*40 41°45

Towns of the Samnites, who are below the Peligni and the Caraceni

Bovianum 39*05 42°00
Aesernia 39*00 41°40
Saepinum 39*40 41°50
Allifa 40*00 41°45
Tuticum 40*10 41°40
Telesia 40*30 41°20
Beneventum 41*00 41°20
Caudium 41*20 41°05

Towns of the Campani in the interior

Venafrum 38*40 41°40
Teanum 39*00 41°30
Suessa 38*40 41°25
Cales 39*20 41°30
Casilinum 39*15 41°20
Trebula 39*35 41°30
Forum Pompilii 39*45 41°15
Capua 40*00 41°10
Abella 40*20 41°10
Atella 40*10 41°05

Towns of the Picentini in the interior

Nola 40*15 40°45
Nuceria colonia 40*30 40°40

Towns of the Lucani in the interior

Ulci 40*40 40°30
Compsa 40*30 40°20
Potentia 40*40 40°15
Blanda 40*20 40°10
Grumentum 40*35 39°45

Towns of the Irpini, who are toward the east from the Picentini and the Lucani

Aquilonia 41*00 41°05
Abellinum 40*50 40°45
Aeculanum 41*20 40°45
Fratuolum 41*00 40°20

Towns of the Apuli Dauni in the interior

Teanum 40*41​c 41°25
Nuceria Apulorum 41*30 41°00
Vibarna 42*00 41°00
Arpi 41*40 41°15
Erdonia 41*40 40°40
Canusium 42*05 40°30

Towns of the Apuli Peuciti in the interior

Venusia 41*40 40°25
Celia 42*10 40°00

Towns of the Bruttii in the interior

Numistro 40*20 39°10
Consentia 40*40 38°10
Vibo Valentia 40*15 38°55

Towns of Magna Graecia in the interior

Petelia 40*45 39°00
Abrystum 40*45 39°25

Towns of the Salentini in the interior

Rudia 41*50 39°45
Neretum 42*00 39°35
Aletium 42*00 39°20
Bausta 42*15 39°15
Exentum 42*00 39°10
Veretum 42*20 39°00

Towns of Calabria in the interior

Sturni 42*30 39°20
Uretum 42*30 39°10

Islands which are near Italy in the Ligurian sea

Aethale island 30*40 42°00
Capraria island 32*00 42°00
Ilva island 33*00 42°00

These are the islands in the Tyrrhenian sea

Planasia island 34*00 41°00
Pontia island 37*20 40°45
Pandataria island 37*50 40°45
Partenope island 38*20 40°45
Prochyte island 38*45 40°40
Pithecussa island 39*20 40°30
Caprea island 39*20 40°10
Sirenussae islands 39*30 39°55

In the Ionian sea there are five islands which are called Diomedeae

located in 43*40 40°20

Thayer's Notes:

a The edition has 48°15 — which can only be an error: whether 4 for 3, either in the 20c or in the 16c, or the less likely xxxx or xl for xxx in a Latin translation, or finally μ for λ hardly matters.

b The edition reads

Cortona

35*42 40°

Since Ptolemy (reasonably in view of the deficiencies of the methods of his time) rounds all coördinates to 5 minutes, 35*42 cannot be the longitude he had. In latitude, 40°00 would put Cortona in the sea. I therefore assumed modern editorial error, and emended to the value given, which is OK relative to Arretium, putting it 20′ E and 5′ S of that city (actual value: 5′ E and 12′ S of Arretium).

Note 7/28/98: checking the Müller edition, I find that my guess was correct. Both the Greek and the Latin figures in Müller's text give 35*00 and 42°40.

c Again, since Ptolemy rounds all coördinates to 5 minutes, this must be a modern editorial error. This one is not as easy to emend as Cortona, however: I've left it as my edition has it.


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Page updated: 31 Jan 10