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Astro*Dictionary by Michael Erlewine

 

 

 

 

1 article for "Hecataeus"

Hecataeus [Astro*Index]

(hek-uh-tee'us)

(BC550-476) Born at Miletus.

This Greek historian travelled throughout the Persian Empire. While in Egypt, he was shown records covering hundreds of generations. His book on the history of Egypt and Asia has not survived, but served to inspire his successor, Herodotus. His map of the world divided the land mass into two halves, Europe occupying the northern half, Asia the southern half, and the Caucasus Mountains and the Mediterranean Sea dividing the two sections, with the entire array surrounded by the "ocean river", Oceanus. Against his political advice, in BC499, the Greek cities of Asia Minor revolted against Darius I of Persia, and were totally suppressed, thus ending the scientific Greek presence which had persisted for nearly 150 years.

 

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