STRABO, a noted geographer; born in Amasea, Pontus, about 63 B. C. On the mother's side he was descended from a Greek family closely connected with the kings of Pontus. Of his father we know nothing. The dates of his visits to most of the countries through which he traveled are very doubtful.
The name Strabo, "squint-eyed," is originally Greek, and its origin is ob vious, but whether any of his ancestors bore it is uncertain. His preceptors were Tyrannio of Amisus, Aristodemus of Nysa, and Xenarchus of Seleucia. He seems to have been possessed of ample means which he expended on travel, the results of which, after a lifetime's toil, he has bequeathed to us in his "Geog raphy." But he also devoted himself to philosophy, and is cited by Plutarch (Lucullus 28, Sulla 26) as Strabo, the philosopher. His work entitled "Histo rica Hypomnemata" in 43 books is sup posed to have contained a narrative of the events from the close of the "His tory" of Polybius to the battle of Actium.
The facts recorded in the "Geography" of Strabo are in great measure the re sult of his own observation. The range of his travels is a wide one, embracing the territories from Armenia to Tyrrhe nia W., and from the Euxine to Ethiopa S. In his work he is largely indebted to the geographers who preceded him Eratosthenes, Artemidorus, Polybius, Posidonius, Aristotle, Theopompus, Thu cydides, Aristobulus, and others. Of
Greece he seems to have seen less than of almost any country. He appears, however, to have obtained in Rome much information regarding the Transalpine regions. Strangely, he disparages the discoveries of Herodotus, and under values the works of Roman writers, quoting almost none save Fabius Pictor, Asinius Pollio, and Julius Caesar.
The principal value of his works lies in his method. The number of histor ical facts recorded by him is enormous. The date of his death is unknown, but it must be placed between A. D. 21 and 25. As a writer, Strabo is always clear, sim ple, and unaffected. His "Geography" comprises 17 books; 2 introductory, 8 devoted to Europe, 6 to Asia, and 1 to Africa. The editio princeps is the "Al dine" (1516). In 1875 a MS. of the "Geography" was discovered in the ab bey of Grotta Ferrata near Frascati, older than any of the 28 previously known MSS., and supplying many lucu nm. The best translations are those in German by C. J. Grosskurd (3 vols. 8 vo. 1831-1834). A fair English version with copious notes and a complete in dex was published in Bohn's "Classical Library" (1854, 3 vols. post. 8vo.). An excellent edition of the text is that of Aug. Meineke (1852-1853, 3 vols. 8vo., 2d ed. 1866).