WWW.Roman-Britain.ORG

The Geography of Ptolemy

The British Section

I know that I am mortal and the creature of a day: but when I search out the massed wheeling circles of the stars, my feet no longer touch the earth, but, side by side with Zeus himself, I take my fill of ambrosia, the food of the gods. PTOLEMY

Claudius Ptolemaeus was a celebrated geographer and astrologer who flourished between the reigns of Hadrian and Antonine in the second century AD. A greek by descent, he was a native of Alexandria in Egypt, and became known as the most wise and learned man of his time. He published several books on astronomy, including The Almagest which gave the positions of 1022 fixed stars by latitude and longitude, his discovery of the precession of the equinoxes, and also expounded an Earth-centred view on the workings of the universe based on epicycles - the Ptolemaic System - which was to remain unchallenged until the Polish astronomer Nicolaus Copernicus published his theory on a Sun-centred universe, the now-familiar Solar System, in AD1543.

His most remarkable publication, however, was perhaps his Geography, a work of seven volumes, which became the standard textbook on the subject until the 15th century. In the opening chapters of the second book of the Geography, we find information appertaining to the British Isles: Chapter 1 is entitled Hibernia island of Britannia, and deals primarily with Ireland (Northern Ireland and Eire), including the islands of the Inner Hebrides, the Isle of Man, and curiously, Anglesey. Chapter 2 is entitled Albion island of Britannia, and deals with mainland Britain (England, Wales and Scotland), giving lists of the prominent coastal landmarks, river mouths and estuaries, as well as the names of the British tribes and their principal towns.

Ptolemy's Map of the British Isles

Above map plotted from the coordinates given in the following text

The WWW.Roman-Britain.ORG Version

The following text includes some degree of HTML formatting, in an attempt to improve clarity, and some passages have been broken up to enable display in a tabular format.

The names of the British Tribes have been rendered in bold type.

some passages have been given extra emphasis, to act as headings

Togodumnus' additions to the text are [highlighted and enclosed in square brackets]. Togodumnus is also responsible for any question marks ?, used as eyecatchers for those names over which some doubt exists.

In addition, the following abbreviations have been adopted throughout the translated text:

Aest. = Aestuarium = Estuary or tidal river-mouth.
Fl. = Fluvius, Flumen = River.
Ost. = Ostium = River-mouth.
Pen. = Peninsula = A narrow strip of land projecting into the sea. The literal Latin meaning is 'almost an island'.
Prom. = Promonturium = Promontory or Headland. A high point of land or rocky coast which juts out into the sea.
Sin. = Sinus = Bay. A wide indentation of the shoreline, especially between two peninsulas or promontories.

Claudius Ptolemaeus - Geography

Book II, Chapter 1

Hibernia Island of Britannia

[... Ptolemy's description of the Irish coastline, rivers and towns has been omitted from here. ...]

Above Hibernia are the ?Ebuda Insulae five in number

[?= Ebudae Insulae* = Hebrides Islands]*

the largest of which toward the west is called
Ebuda	15*00	62ｰ00	[?= Islay?]
next to this toward the east likewise is
Ebuda Insula	15*40	62ｰ00	[?= Jura?]
then ?Rhicina	17*00	62ｰ00	[?= Isle of Arran?]
then Malaeus	17*30	62ｰ30	[= Malaius* = Island of Mull]*
then Epidium	18*30	62ｰ00	[= Epidium Prom.* = Kintyre, Strathclyde]*

Toward the east of Hibernia are these Islands

Monaoeda Insula	17*40	61ｰ30	[= Manavia Insula* = Isle of Man]*
Mona Insula	15*00	57ｰ40	[= MONA INSVLA = Anglesey]
?Adru which is barren	15*00	59ｰ30	[unknown]
?Limnu which is barren	15*00	59ｰ00	[unknown]
[end of chapter one]

Book II, Chapter 2

Albion Island of Britannia

[Part One - The Coastline of Mainland Britain]

A description of the northern coast, above which is the Oceanus Duecaledonius

Novantarum Pen.			[== Rhinns of Galloway]
and Prom. of the same name	21*00	61ｰ40	[= Novantarum Prom.* = Mull of Galloway]*
Rerigonius Sin.	20*30	60ｰ50	[== Loch Ryan, Dumfries & Galloway]
Vindogara Sin.	21*20	60ｰ30	[== Irvine Bay, Strathclyde]
Clota Aest.	22*15	59ｰ20	[== Firth of Clyde]
?Lemannonius Sin.	24*00	60ｰ00	[?= Loch Fyne?]
Epidium Prom.	23*00	60ｰ40	[== Mull of Kintyre]
ost. ?Longus Fl.	24*30	60ｰ40	[?= Firth of Lorn?]
ost. ?Itis Fl.	27*00	60ｰ40	[unknown]
?Volas Sin.	29*00	60ｰ30	[unknown]
ost. ?Navarus Fl.	30*00	60ｰ30	[unknown]
Tarvedum sive Orcas Prom.	31*20	60ｰ15	[== Dunnet Head, Scottish Highlands]

Description of the west¹ side which borders on the Hibernian Ocean and the Vergionius Ocean

Novantarum Prom.	21*00	61ｰ40	[== Mull of Galloway, Dumfries & Galloway]
ost. ?Abravannus Fl.	19*20	61ｰ00	[?= Water of Luce, Dumfries & Galloway?]
?Iena Aest.	19*00	60ｰ30	[?= River Cree, Dumfries & Galloway?]
ost. Devas Fl.	18*00	60ｰ00	[== River Dee, Dumfries & Galloway]
ost. Novius Fl.	18*20	59ｰ30	[== River Nith, Dumfries & Galloway]
Ituna Aest.	18*30	58ｰ45	[== Solway Firth]
Moricambe Aest.	17*30	58ｰ20	[== Morcambe Bay]
?Portus Setantiorum	17*20	57ｰ45	[?= nr. Fleetwood, Lancashire?]
Belisama Aest.	17*30	57ｰ20	[== River Ribble, Lancashire]
Seteia Aest.	17*00	57ｰ00	[== River Mersey, Merseyside]
Caeanganorum Prom.	15*00	57ｰ00²	[?= Ceanganorum Prom. = Point of Ayr, Clwyd (Deceangi)? ?= Ganganorum Prom. = Lleyn Peninsula, Gwynedd (Gangani/Ordovices)?]
ost. Toesobis Fl.	15*40	56ｰ20	[= Tisobis Fl.* = Tremadog Bay, Gwynedd]*
ost. Stuccia Fl.	15*20	55ｰ30	[= Stuctia Fl.* = Afon Ystwyth, Dyfed]*
ost. ?Tuerobis Fl.	15*00	55ｰ00	[unknown]
Octapitarum Prom.	14*20	54ｰ30	[== St. David's Head, Dyfed]
ost. ?Tobius Fl.	15*30	54ｰ30	[unknown]
ost. ?Ratostabius Fl.	16*30	54ｰ30	[unknown]
Sabrina Aest.	17*20	54ｰ30	[== River Severn, Gloucestershire]
Uxella Aest.	16*00	53ｰ30	[== River Axe, Somerset]
Herculis Prom.	14*00	52ｰ45	[== Hartland Point, Devon]
Antivestaeum sive Bolerium Prom.	11*30	52ｰ30	[== Land's End, Cornwall]
Damnonium sive Ocrium Prom.	12*00	51ｰ30	[== Lizard Point, Cornwall]

Description of the south side below which is the Oceanus Britannicus

After the Ocrium Prom. is
ost. Cenio Fl.	14*00³	51ｰ45	[unknown]
ost. Tamarus Fl.	15*40	52ｰ10	[== River Tamar, Devon and Cornwall]
ost. Iscas Fl.	17*40	52ｰ20	[== River Exe, Devon]
ost. ?Alaunus Fl.	17*40	52ｰ40	[unknown]
?Magnus Portus	19*00	53ｰ00	[?= MAGNVS PORTVS = Bosham Harbour, nr. Chichester, Sussex]
ost. Trisantonis Fl.	20*20	53ｰ00	[= Trisantona Fl.* = River Arun, Sussex]*
?Novus Portus	21*00	53ｰ30	[?= nr. Brighton and Hove, Sussex]
Cantium Prom.	22*00	54ｰ00	[== South Foreland, Kent]

A description of the eastern and the southern side next to which is the Oceanus Germanicus

After the Tarvedum Prom., or Orcades, by which it is known
Virvedrum Prom.	31*00	60ｰ00	[== Duncansby Head, Scottish Highlands]
Verubium Prom.	30*30	59ｰ40	[== Noss Head, Scottish Highlands]
ost. Ila Fl.	30*00	59ｰ40	[== River Helmsdale, Scottish Highlands]
a high shore	29*00	59ｰ40	[?= Foothills of Beinn Dhorain, Scottish Highlands]
Varar Aest.	28*00⁴	59ｰ40	[== Beauly Firth, Scottish Highlands]
ost. Loxa Fl.	27*30	59ｰ40	[== River Lossie, Grampian]
Tuesis Aest.	27*00	59ｰ00	[== River Spey, Grampian]
ost. Caelis Fl.	27*00	58ｰ45	[== River Deveron, Grampian]
Taezalon Prom.	27*30	58ｰ30	[= Taexalorum Prom.* = Kinnaird's Head, Grampian]*
ost. Deva Fl.	26*00	58ｰ30	[== River Dee, Grampian]
ost. Tina Fl.	24*00	58ｰ30	[== River Eden, Fife]
Boderia Aest.	22*30	59ｰ00	[= Bodotria Aest.* = Firth of Forth]*
ost. Alaunus Fl.	21*20	58ｰ30	[== River Aln, Northumberland]
ost. Vedra Fl.	20*10	58ｰ30	[== River Wear, Tyne & Wear]
Dunum Sin.	20*15	57ｰ30	[== Tees bay, Cleveland]
?Gabrantuicorum Sin. with many harbors	21*00	57ｰ00	[?= Bridlington Bay?]
?Ocelus Prom.	21*15	56ｰ40	[?= Spurn Head, Humberside?]
ost. Abi Fl.	21*00	56ｰ30	[= Abus Fl.* = River Humber, Humberside]*
Metaris Aest.	20*30	55ｰ40	[== The Wash]
ost. Gariennus Fl.	20*50	55ｰ40	[= Gariannus Fl.* = River Yare, Norfolk]*
a Promontory	21*15	55ｰ05	[unknown]
ost. ?Sidumanis Fl.	20*10	55ｰ00	[unknown]
Tamesa Aest.	20*30	54ｰ30	[= Tamesis Aest.* = Thames Estuary, Greater London]*
Next to this the Cantium Prom.	22*00	54ｰ00	[== South Foreland, Kent]

[Part Two - The Tribes and Cities of Mainland Britain]

The Novantae dwell on the side toward the north below the peninsula of this name, among whom are the following towns:
?Locopibia	19*00	60ｰ20	[unknown]
?Rerigonium	20*10	60ｰ40	[unknown]
Below are the Selgovae, among whom are the following towns:
?Carbantorigum	19*00	59ｰ30	[unknown]
?Uxellum	18*30	59ｰ20	[unknown]
?Corda	20*00	59ｰ40	[unknown]
Trimontium	19*00	59ｰ00	[= TRIMONTIVM = Newstead, Borders]
From these toward the east, but more northerly, are the Damnoni, among whom are the following towns:
?Colanica	20*45	59ｰ10	[unknown]
?Vindogara	21*20	60ｰ00	[unknown]
?Coria	21*30	59ｰ20	[unknown]
?Alauna	22*45	59ｰ50	[unknown]
?Lindum	23*00	59ｰ30	[unknown]
?Victoria	23*30	59ｰ00	[unknown]
Further south are the Otalini⁵, among whom are the following towns:
?Coria	20*10	59ｰ00	[?= CORSTOPITVM = Corbridge, Northumberland?]
?Alauna	23*00	58ｰ40	[?= ALAVNA = Learchild, Northumberland?]
Bremenium	21*00	58ｰ45	[= BREMENIVM = High Rochester, Northumberland]
Next to the Damnoni, but more toward the east near the Epidium Prom. are the Epidi and next to these the Cerones; then the Carnonacae, and the Caereni but more toward the east; and in the extreme east dwell the Cornavi; from the Lemannonis Sin. as far as the Varar Aest. are the Caledoni, and above these is the Caledonian forest, from which toward the east are the Decantae, and next to these the Lugi extending to the Cornavi boundary, and above the Lugi are the Smertae;
below Caledonia are the Vacomagi, among whom are the following towns:
?Bannatia	24*00	59ｰ30	[unknown]
?Tamia	25*00	59ｰ20	[unknown]
Pinnata Castra	27*15	59ｰ20	[= PINNATA CASTRA = Inchtuthill, Tayside]
?Tuesis	26*45	59ｰ10	[unknown]
Below these toward the west are the Venicones, whose town is
?Orrea	24*00	58ｰ45	[?= HORREA CLASSIS = Carpow, Fife?]
More toward the east are the Taezali and the town
?Devana	26*00	59ｰ00	[?= DEVANA = Aberdeen, Grampian?]
Below the Selgovae and Otalini are the Brigantes extending to both seas, among whom are the following towns:
Epiacum	18*30	58ｰ30	[= EPIACVM = Whitley Castle, Northumberland]
Vinovium	17*45	58ｰ00	[= VINOVIVM = Binchester, Durham]
Caturactonium	20*00	58ｰ00	[= CATARACTONIVM = Catterick, North Yorkshire]
?Calatum	19*00	57ｰ45	[?= CALACVM = Burrow in Lonsdale, Lancashire?]
Isurium	20*00	57ｰ40	[= ISVRIVM = Aldborough, North Yorkshire]
?Rigodunum	18*00	57ｰ30	[?= RIGODVNVM = Castleshaw, Greater Manchester?]
?Olicana	19*00	57ｰ30	[?= OLENACVM = Elslack, Lancashire?]
Eboracum, Legio VI Victrix	20*00	57ｰ20	[= EBVRACVM = York, North Yorkshire]
?Camulodunum	18*00	57ｰ45	[?= CAMBODVNVM = Slack, South Yorkshire?]
Near which on the Opportunum Sin. are the Parisi and the town
Petuaria	20*40	56ｰ40	[= PETVARIA = Brough on Humber, Humberside]
Below these are the Brigantes but some distance toward the west are the Ordovices, among whom are the towns:
Mediolanum	16*45	56ｰ40	[= MEDIOLANVM = Whitchurch, Shropshire]
?Brannogenium	16*45	56ｰ15	[?= BRAVONIVM = Leintwardine, Hereford & Worcester?]
From these toward the east are the Cornavi, among whom are the towns:
Deva, Legio XX Victrix	17*30	56ｰ45	[= DEVA = Chester, Cheshire]
Viroconium	16*45	55ｰ45	[= VIROCONIVM = Wroxeter, Shropshire]
Next to these are the Coritani, among whom are the towns:
Lindum	18*40	56ｰ30	[= LINDVM = Lincoln, Lincolnshire]
Ratae	18*00	55ｰ30	[= RATAE = Leicester, Leicestershire]
Next are the Catuvellauni, among whom are the towns:
?Salinae	20*45	55ｰ50	[unknown]
Urolanium	19*20	55ｰ30	[= VERVLAMIVM = St. Alban's, Hertfordshire]
Next to these are the Iceni, whose town is called
Venta	20*30	55ｰ20	[= VENTA = Caistor St. Edmund, Norfolk]
Farther eastward and near the Tamesa Aestuarium are the Trinovantes and the town
Camulodunum	21*00	55ｰ00	[= CAMVLODVNVM = Colchester, Essex]
Below the peoples we have mentioned, but more toward the west are the Demetae, whose towns are:
?Luentinum	15*45	55ｰ10	[?= LVENTINVM = Pumsaint, Dyfed]
Maridunum	15*30	54ｰ40	[= MORIDVNVM = Carmarthen, Dyfed]
More toward the east are the Silures whose town is
?Bullaeum	16*50	55ｰ00	[?= BVRRIVM = Usk, Gwent]
Next to these are the Dobuni, and their town
Corinium	18*00	54ｰ10	[= CORINIVM = Cirencester, Gloucestershire]
then the Atrebati and their town
Caleva	19*00	54ｰ15	[= CALLEVA = Silchester, Hampshire]
Next to these, but farther eastward, are the Canti among whom are the towns:
Londinium	20*00	54ｰ00	[= LONDINIVM = London, Greater London]
?Daruernum	21*00	54ｰ00	[= DVROVERNVM = Canterbury, Kent]
Rutupie	21*45	54ｰ00	[= RVTVPIAE = Richborough, Kent]
Below the Atrebati and the Canti are the Regni and the town
Noeomagus	19*45	53ｰ05	[= NOVIOMAGVS = Chichester, Sussex]
Below the Dobuni are the Belgae and the towns:
?Iscalis	16*00	53ｰ40	[?= ISCALIS = nr. Bawdrip, Somerset?]
Aquae Calidae	17*20	53ｰ40	[= AQVAE SVLIS = Bath, Avon]
Venta	18*40	53ｰ00	[= VENTA = Winchester, Hampshire]
Toward the west and south of these are the Durotriges whose town is
?Dunium	18*00	52ｰ40	[?= DVNVM = Hod Hill, Dorset?]
Next to these, but more to the west, are the Dumnoni, whose towns are:
?Voliba	14*45	52ｰ00	[unknown]
?Uxella	15*00	52ｰ45	[?= VXELIS = Launceston, Cornwall?]
?Tamara	15*00	52ｰ15	[?= TAMARIS = Plymouth, Devon?]
Isca, where is located Legio II Augusta	17*30	52ｰ45	[= ISCA = Exeter, Devon]

[Part Three - The Remaining British Islands]

The islands which are near Albion Insula and the Orcades Prom. are

Scetis island	32*40	60ｰ45	[= Scitis* = Skye]*
?Dumna island	30*00	61ｰ20	[?= Outer Hebrides (North Uist, South Uist & Isle of Lewis]

Above these islands are the Orcades, about thirty in number

the middle of which is in

30*00

61ｰ40

[?Orcades = Orkneys (possibly including Shetlands]

Far above these is the island ?Thule.

[?= Thule / Ultima Thule* ?= Shetland Islands ?= Iceland ?= Norway == A mythical northernmost inhabitable island.]*

The part of this which extends much toward the west is in	29*00	63ｰ00
that which is farthest eastward is	31*40	63ｰ00
that which is farthest northward is	30*20	63ｰ15
that which is farthest southward is	30*20	62ｰ40
the middle is in	30*20	63ｰ00

Eastward from the Trinovantes region there are two islands

?Toliapis	23*00	54ｰ20	[?= TANATVS Isle of Thanet, Kent?]
?Counus island	24*00	54ｰ30	[unknown]

Below Magnus Portus is the island Vectis

the middle of which is in	19*20	52ｰ20	[= VECTIS = Isle of Wight, Hampshire]
[end of chapter two]

Textual Amendations
¹	The 1932 edition has east.
²	The 1932 edition has 56ｰ00.
³	The 1932 edition has *1451**.
⁴	The 1932 edition has *2700**.
⁵	The 1932 edition has Otadini.

Other RBO Geographical Resources

Antonine Itinerary * Notitia Dignitatum * Ravenna Cosmology * Peutinger Table

The basis for this page is Book 2 of Ptolemy's Geography, the last two paragraphs of chapter 1, and the entirety of chapter 2, purloined from the website of Bill Thayer; which is - he assures me - in the public domain.

WWW.Roman-Britain.ORG

The Geography of Ptolemy

The British Section

Ptolemy's Map of the British Isles

Above map plotted from the coordinates given in the following text

The WWW.Roman-Britain.ORG Version

some passages have been given extra emphasis, to act as headings

Claudius Ptolemaeus - Geography

Book II, Chapter 1

Hibernia Island of Britannia

[... Ptolemy's description of the Irish coastline, rivers and towns has been omitted from here. ...]

Above Hibernia are the ?Ebuda Insulae five in number

[?= Ebudae Insulae* = Hebrides Islands]*

Toward the east of Hibernia are these Islands

Book II, Chapter 2

Albion Island of Britannia

[Part One - The Coastline of Mainland Britain]

A description of the northern coast, above which is the Oceanus Duecaledonius

Description of the west¹ side which borders on the Hibernian Ocean and the Vergionius Ocean

Description of the south side below which is the Oceanus Britannicus

A description of the eastern and the southern side next to which is the Oceanus Germanicus

[Part Two - The Tribes and Cities of Mainland Britain]

[Part Three - The Remaining British Islands]

The islands which are near Albion Insula and the Orcades Prom. are

Above these islands are the Orcades, about thirty in number

Far above these is the island ?Thule.

[?= Thule / Ultima Thule* ?= Shetland Islands ?= Iceland ?= Norway == A mythical northernmost inhabitable island.]*

Eastward from the Trinovantes region there are two islands

Below Magnus Portus is the island Vectis

Other RBO Geographical Resources

Antonine Itinerary * Notitia Dignitatum * Ravenna Cosmology * Peutinger Table

For the Complete Text of Ptolemy's Geography

Bill Thayer's Roman Gazetteer

Go there and tell him Yo!

This page was last modified:

WWW.Roman-Britain.ORG

The Geography of Ptolemy

The British Section

Ptolemy's Map of the British Isles

Above map plotted from the coordinates given in the following text

The WWW.Roman-Britain.ORG Version

some passages have been given extra emphasis, to act as headings

Claudius Ptolemaeus - Geography

Book II, Chapter 1

Hibernia Island of Britannia

[... Ptolemy's description of the Irish coastline, rivers and towns has been omitted from here. ...]

Above Hibernia are the ?Ebuda Insulae five in number

[?= Ebudae Insulae = Hebrides Islands]

Toward the east of Hibernia are these Islands

Book II, Chapter 2

Albion Island of Britannia

[Part One - The Coastline of Mainland Britain]

A description of the northern coast, above which is the Oceanus Duecaledonius

Description of the west1 side which borders on the Hibernian Ocean and the Vergionius Ocean

Description of the south side below which is the Oceanus Britannicus

A description of the eastern and the southern side next to which is the Oceanus Germanicus

[Part Two - The Tribes and Cities of Mainland Britain]

[Part Three - The Remaining British Islands]

The islands which are near Albion Insula and the Orcades Prom. are

Above these islands are the Orcades, about thirty in number

Far above these is the island ?Thule.

[?= Thule / Ultima Thule ?= Shetland Islands ?= Iceland ?= Norway == A mythical northernmost inhabitable island.]

Eastward from the Trinovantes region there are two islands

Below Magnus Portus is the island Vectis

Other RBO Geographical Resources

Antonine Itinerary * Notitia Dignitatum * Ravenna Cosmology * Peutinger Table

For the Complete Text of Ptolemy's Geography

Bill Thayer's Roman Gazetteer

Go there and tell him Yo!

This page was last modified:  April 2005

[?= Ebudae Insulae* = Hebrides Islands]*

Description of the west¹ side which borders on the Hibernian Ocean and the Vergionius Ocean

[?= Thule / Ultima Thule* ?= Shetland Islands ?= Iceland ?= Norway == A mythical northernmost inhabitable island.]*

This page was last modified: