- Sri Lanka is an island in the Indian Ocean located off the southeastern coast of India.
- During the Greek and Roman Period it was called Taprobane.
Taprobane
- The Island of Sri Lanka was known as ‘Taprobane’ to the ancient Greeks and Romans and was named by Ptolemy on his world chart (c.150 CE).
- Taprobane was also known as ‘Serendivis’ to the Romans, as ‘Lanka’ to the Indians, and as ‘Serendib’ to the Arabs and the Persians. The word Serendipity is derived from this word.
Ancient Sources
- Megasthenes (350-290 BCE) the Greek Geographer first mentioned the island.
- Eratosthenes (276-196 BCE) placed it in his Geography.
- Ptolemy 139 CE, placed it in his geographical treatise.
- Pliny the Elder (23-79 CE) discusses Taprobane in his Natural History.
Sri Lanka