c. 63 B.C.-c. A.D. 23

Greco-Roman Geographer

Strabo's Geographica, with its 17 books discussing the world known to the Greeks and Romans of his day, is perhaps the greatest geographical text of antiquity. Vast in scope, the work is filled with the author's observations on philosophy, history, and science, all of which give the modern reader enormous insight regarding the ancient mind.

Raised in Pontus, a kingdom of Asia Minor conquered by Rome shortly before his birth, Strabo came from a wealthy family and received the finest education in Greek and Roman traditions. In his youth he received instruction from tutors who had also taught the sons of several great Romans, among them Tyrannio, tutor of Cicero's (106-43 B.C.) sons and an expert on geography. Most likely Strabo acquired his interest in that subject from Tyrannio, who taught him in Rome.

Also in Rome, the young Strabo...