GEOGRAPHER

Life
Marcian was a native of Heraclea, in Pontus. He studied the works of Ptolemy, Protagoras' treatise on the "Geography of the Inhabited World", the "Geography" of Artemidorus, the "Periplus" of Menippus and the "Periplus" of Menander.


Work
His writings, which are cited by Stephen of Byzantium, include:

"Summary of the eleven books of geography of Artemidorus of Ephesus": Lost.

"Periplus of the Outer Sea in 2 books":

The first book describes the Atlantic Ocean as far as the North Sea. It mentions the Albion islands (Britain) and 'Iris' (Ireland).

The second book describes the Ocean and the island of Taprobane (Ceylon), and mentions China. It also mentions an unknown land to the south of China, very probably Australia. Many fragments of this book survive.

"On the distances from Rome to the important cities of the known world": Fragments survive.

"Summary of the 'Periplus of the Inner Sea' written by Menippus of Pergamum": Some chapters and fragments survive.

"Summary of the 'Periplus' of Menander"

"Geography": Description of the Mediterranean.

"Measurement of the circumference of the earth"

"Periplus of the Indian Gulf"

"Periplus of the Persian Gulf"

"Periplus of Arabia"

"Periplus of the Red Sea"

"Periplus of Libya"

"Periplus of Iberia"

"Periplus of Celto-galatia"

"Periplus of Sarmatia"

"Periplus of Lusitania"

The surviving fragments of his work are extremely valuable, for they confirm his position as one of the great geographers.