The geographical system of Herodotus, examined; and explained, by a comparison with those of other ancient authors, and with modern geography : In the course of the work are introduced, dissertations on the itinerary stade of the Greeks, the expedition of Darius Hystaspes to Scythia, the position and remains of ancient Babylon, the alluvions of the Nile, and canals of Suez; the oasis and temple of Jupiter Ammon, the ancient circumnavigation of Africa, and other subjects of history and geography. The whole explained by eleven maps, adapted to the different subjects; and accompanied with a complete index / by James Rennell.
- Rennell, James, 1742-1830.
- Date:
- 1800
Licence: Public Domain Mark
Credit: The geographical system of Herodotus, examined; and explained, by a comparison with those of other ancient authors, and with modern geography : In the course of the work are introduced, dissertations on the itinerary stade of the Greeks, the expedition of Darius Hystaspes to Scythia, the position and remains of ancient Babylon, the alluvions of the Nile, and canals of Suez; the oasis and temple of Jupiter Ammon, the ancient circumnavigation of Africa, and other subjects of history and geography. The whole explained by eleven maps, adapted to the different subjects; and accompanied with a complete index / by James Rennell. Source: Wellcome Collection.
Provider: This material has been provided by Royal College of Physicians, London. The original may be consulted at Royal College of Physicians, London.
![We should lay more stress on that result, which arises from the ordinary march of the Greeks, as reported by Herodotus, and proved by the journal of Xenophon, to be 150 stades, than on any other single authority: more particularly as the scale of that march coin- cides so nearly with the result of our inquiries into the length of the mean march, which has been shewn to be rather above 14 road miles of British measure; the 150th part of which, 493, is no more than 4 feet longer than the stade of Xenophon; i2± short of that, arising on the general mean of all the authorities. At the same time, the stade of boo Grecian feet would give the length of a march at no less than 17 miles, which is out of all proportion.* It has been observed that the mean stade of 718 to a degree, is somewhat above 500 English feet (that is 505^); and 500 Gre- cian feet are equal to about 503^ English.'!' A pace was no doubt the elementary part of Itinerary measures, amongst the Greeks, as well as other nations; and the natural pace']; is nearly about 5 feet. Is it not probable that the integral measure, the stade, was made up of 100 of these ? and that hence arose the stade of about 500 feet, in ordinary use ? Some, we know not on what authority, have fixed the Grecian pace at more than 6 of our feet. But it would appear that they took the orgyia for a pace, although it seems to have been a fathom. D’Anville’s Mes. Itin. p. 43. It is not probable that any natural pace ever extended to the length of 6 feet, or perhaps to more than five. The Roman pace was 5 of their feet; answering to 4 feet 10 inches of our measure. * See notes to page 22. t A Grecian foot being equal to 12,0875 English inches. (Arbuthnot.) X Meaning the double step, or return of the same foot. F](https://iiif.wellcomecollection.org/image/b2840726x_0065.jp2/full/800%2C/0/default.jpg)
