Book 2
5.9
If, then, to the distance between Rhodes and the Dnieper be added four thousand stadia north of the latter place, the whole would come to 12,700 stadia; and since from Rhodes to the southern limit of the habitable earth there are 16,600 stadia, its total breadth from north to south would be under 30,000 stadia.Namely, 29,300. Stadia. From Rhodes to Byzantium Strabo estimated 4900 From Byzantium to the Dnieper 3800 8700 From the Dnieper to the northern limits of the habitable earth 4000 12,700 From Rhodes to the southern limits of the habitable earth 16,600 Total 29,300 Its length from west to east is stated at 70,000 stadia, the distance being measured from the extremities of Iberia to those of India, partly over the land and partly across the sea. That this length is contained within the quadrilateral aforesaid, is proved by the proportion borne by these parallels to the equator. Thus the length of the habitable earth is above twice its breadth. It has been compared in figure to a chlamys, or soldier’s cloak, because if every part be carefully examined, it will be found that its breadth is greatly diminished towards the extremities, especially in the west.
