Timosthenes

Timosthenes of Rhodes ( Ancient Greek Τιμοσθένης ) was a Greek navigator and geographer of the 3rd century BC

In Egyptian services

As Timosthenes was 270 BC by Ptolemy II brought to Egypt and was appointed commander of the fleet, he had already made ​​a name and was in matters relating to the wind and the seafaring concern as the leading expert. He was sailing in the entire European Mediterranean coast, knew all the ports on the Red Sea and on the North African coast to Gades (old name of the city of Cádiz ) and was perhaps also ventured into the Atlantic. His expeditions were, among others, also favored, that he could take in relatively peaceful times. The First Syrian War had 271 BC. ended with a victory for Egypt and until the Second Syrian War ( 260-253 BC). was still time. The position of Egypt was unchallenged and the relationships inside and outside can be considered as good and stable.

Works

• He had written in the years BC 280-270 with the 10 -volume treatise "On the ports " (Greek Περὶ λιμένων ) and submitted to the coast so best description of his time His magnum opus. She received a " Periplus of the Timosthenes " celebrity and remained for centuries an often- cited work.
• In the geographical treatise "On the islands " ( Περί νήσων ) he described Cyprus, Thera, Sicily, Cephalonia and a variety of islands between Lesbos and the Ionian coast.
• His Stadiasmoi ( Σταδιασμοί ) were accurate descriptions of sea routes, which he created together with Epitomen the 10 volumes of his main work and completed with maps and wind charts based on the " Meteorologica " of Aristotle. He was the first Rhodes sat at the center of his maps, which was continued by his successors as a tribute to him.

All these writings seem to have been lost in Late Antiquity and we only as fragments in the works of other authors.

Development of the wind rose

Of particular importance Timosthenes is also because he is perhaps the first of the Greek geographer who goes beyond the treatment of the windlass as merely meteorological phenomenon and begin to look at them properly as points of geographical direction. The Greco-Roman physician and geographer Agathemeros ( flourished about 250 AD ), it is due to that the wind panel of Timosthenes remained as a fragment at least. According to him, arranges Timosthenes each of the 12 winds - relative to Rhodes - geographical regions and peoples.

The following list is based primarily on Agathemeros ' tradition.

• Aparctias (N), this is the prevailing wind, Scythians beyond Thrace '
• The side wind Boreas ( NNO ) corresponds to Pontus, Maeotis and the Sarmatians '
• The side wind Caecias (NO) represents the, Caspian Sea and the Sakas '
• Apeliotes (O), the prevailing wind direction for the 'East ' stands for ' Bactria '
• The side wind Euros ( SO) is the Indus River and the Indians '
• The side wind Phoenicias or Euronotos (SSO ) corresponds to the Red Sea 'and' Aithiopia (probably Axum ) '
• Notos (S ), this is the prevailing wind, Aithiopier beyond Egypt accordingly ( Nubia ) '
• The side wind Leuconotos alias Libonotos (SSW ) corresponds to the, Garamantes beyond the Great Syrtis '
• The side wind Lips ( mythology ) | Lips (SW ) corresponds to, Ethiopians to the west across the Mauroi ( Numidia, Mauritania ) '
• Zephyros (W), the prevailing wind for the 'West' is due to the, Pillars of Hercules, the border between Africa and Europe '
• The side wind Argestes (NW) stands for, Iberia or Hispania '
• The side wind Thrascias / Circius ( NNW ) corresponds to, Celts '.

In many ways Timosthenes ' innovation is a significant step in the development of the compass rose. It is very likely that Timosthenes is due to the development of Aristotle's 10 -beam wind rose to a 12 -beam compass. He achieved this by introducing a wind from South - South-West ( Leuconotos alias Libonotos ), had Aristotle and Theophrastus disregarded and replaced one only locally occurring in aristotle between wind system wind through Euronotos as now generally accepted south-south -east wind.

Hypothesis

Maybe Timosthenes is appreciable not only as a navigator and innovator of the compass, but also as a geographer who used his skills to create a basic map of the European Mediterranean coast. In this case, he would be the immediate thought leaders, if not the initiator of the world map, which is attributed to Eratosthenes. This might speak the following documents:

• His ( preserved in the fragment ) wind and table of nations is nautically only of limited use.
• Timosthenes sailed and measured the Persian Gulf on the length and width measured in days of sailing.
• He also calculated the distances between different places in the Mediterranean.
• The division of Southern Europe in three promontories ( ἄθξαη ), can also be traced to Timosthenes. It was, after all too obvious to the Navigator in each of the three major southern promontories ( Iberian Peninsula, Italy, Greece) to see the significant geographical feature of the region.

Reception

Later geographers such as Strabo and Eratosthenes and the naturalist Pliny appealed to Timosthenes. Artemidorus of Ephesus ( 100 BC. ), The most professional geographer between Polybius and Strabo, went so far as to accuse Eratosthenes plagiarism from Timosthenes as from the extract of Epitomeators Markianos of Heraclea ( Marcianus Heracleensis ) ( flourished about 300 n. Chr ) is apparent. Strabo reports, however, only: " Eratosthenes are Timosthenes before any other writer preference, although he often turns against him ."

Agathemeros are in his " Geographia " the eight main winch and refers to Timosthenes, of which he says: " ... he had developed a system of twelve winds by adding four to the hitherto customary eight winds ". Agathemeros wrong here - since Aristotle ten winds were at least considered, and not eight.

Modern scholars suggest that Timosthenes could have used the collection of the winds for the Epitome of his navigational aids, which would explain Agathemeros ' eagerness to boast Timosthenes as the " inventor " of the 12 -beam compass. Timosthenes ' geographical list is almost verbatim in the work of John of Damascus in the 8th century and a Prague manuscript from the early 14th century. In the pseudo- Aristotelian treatise De Mundo (usually attributed to an anonymous imitator of Posidonius, was probably built between 50 and 140 AD) are the names of the winds almost identical to Timosthenes ' names.

Despite these merits falls Timosthenes ' Findings in modern times rather modest and in addition to the 'Mount Timosthenes ' in Antarctica, which is named after him, a little reminiscent of him.

Trivia

Another look at the life of Timosthenes allows Strabo, by reporting, Timosthenes have participated with a " Pythian way " to the Pythia at Delphi. As always with the " Pythian way," has also Timosthenes ' hymn, accompanied by flute and lyre, celebrated the contest between Apollo and the Serpent Python. The Strabo's report is not entirely certain, since the corresponding point probably has a gap in the text and Timosthenes may not named as a composer but as informant. Either way, it is a testament to the position, which held Timosthenes.