# Periplus of the Erythraean Sea

> 1st century Greco-Roman periplus

**Wikidata**: [Q664162](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q664162)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Periplus_of_the_Erythraean_Sea)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/periplus-of-the-erythraean-sea

## Summary
The *Periplus of the Erythraean Sea* is a 1st-century Greco-Roman periplus, serving as a literary guide for seafaring and trade. It is a significant literary work read for enjoyment or edification, detailing navigation and commercial opportunities. The text is also known by the aliases *Periplus maris Erythraei* and *Periplus of the Red Sea*.

## Key Facts
- **Title:** *Periplus of the Erythraean Sea*
- **Aliases:** *Periplus maris Erythraei*, *Periplus of the Red Sea*
- **Inception:** Estimated between the 1st century (+0100-00-00T00:00:00Z) and 3rd century (+0300-00-00T00:00:00Z)
- **Type:** Literary work [class] and periplus [Thing]
- **Genre:** Periplus (ancient guides of seafaring)
- **Origin:** Greco-Roman
- **Collection:** Contained within *Geographi Graeci Minores* [Thing]
- **Sitelink Count:** 43
- **Wikipedia Title:** Periplus of the Erythraean Sea

## FAQs
**What is the *Periplus of the Erythraean Sea*?**
It is a 1st-century Greco-Roman literary work classified as a periplus, a genre of ancient guides designed for seafaring.

**What are the alternative names for this work?**
The work is also known as *Periplus maris Erythraei* and *Periplus of the Red Sea*.

**When was the *Periplus of the Erythraean Sea* written?**
The inception of the work is estimated to have occurred between the 1st century and the 3rd century.

**In what collection is the *Periplus of the Erythraean Sea* found?**
The text is included in the collection titled *Geographi Graeci Minores*.

## Why It Matters
The *Periplus of the Erythraean Sea* matters as a primary example of the periplus genre, representing the practical knowledge and geographical understanding of the Greco-Roman world. As a literary work read for both enjoyment and edification, it serves as a historical bridge connecting modern readers to ancient navigation and trade practices. Its inclusion in the *Geographi Graeci Minores* ensures its preservation and continued study within the canon of minor Greek geographical texts.

## Notable For
- Being a 1st-century Greco-Roman example of the periplus genre.
- Serving as an ancient guide for seafaring.
- Possessing multiple distinct aliases, including *Periplus maris Erythraei*.
- Its inclusion in the *Geographi Graeci Minores*.
- Functioning as a literary work read for edification.

## Body
### Classification and Genre
The *Periplus of the Erythraean Sea* is classified as a literary work [class], defined as a written work read for enjoyment or edification. Specifically, it belongs to the periplus [Thing] genre, which consists of ancient guides of seafaring. The term "periplus" literally refers to a sailing-around, and this text fits the definition by serving as a manuscript for maritime navigation.

### Historical Context and Inception
The work originates from the Greco-Roman era. Academic and Wikidata sources place its inception with two potential timelines: +0100-00-00T00:00:00Z (1st century) and +0300-00-00T00:00:00Z (3rd century). This date range establishes the text's origin in antiquity.

### Textual Identity and Nomenclature
The entity is identified by its primary title, *Periplus of the Erythraean Sea*, which serves as its Wikipedia title. It is also recognized under specific aliases: *Periplus maris Erythraei* and *Periplus of the Red Sea*. The Wikidata description explicitly labels it as a "1st century Greco-Roman periplus."

### Related Works and Collections
The *Periplus of the Erythraean Sea* is a component of the larger entity *Geographi Graeci Minores* [Thing]. This relationship classifies the text within a specific collection of geographical writings. The *Geographi Graeci Minores* entity has a sitelink count of 5.

### Digital Presence
The work maintains a notable presence across knowledge platforms, evidenced by a sitelink count of 43. The genre it belongs to, periplus [Thing], has a sitelink count of 25, while its classification as a literary work [class] has a sitelink count of 20.

## References

1. Virtual International Authority File
2. Freebase Data Dumps. 2013