Wiki Categories: Map Features

Parthenon

  • The Parthenon was the Temple of Athena, Patron of Athens, located on the Acropolis above Athens.
  • It was constructed between 447-438 BCE, and is considered to be a masterpiece of Classical Architecture, the Symbol of Ancient Greece and Western Civilisation.

Description

  • The Parthenon is aligned to the Hyades star cluster.
  • It acted as a Treasury during the Athenian Empire.
  • The Parthenon was decorated by statues designed by the artist Phideas, known as the Elgin Marbles
  • It was visited by wealthy Romans as part of the Roman Grand Tour.

 

Parthenon, Athens:

Benevento

  • Benevento is a cathedral city on the confluence of the river Sabato and river Calore, 65 miles (105km0 east of Naples, in the Campania Region of southern Italy. It is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
  • Benevento was known as Beneventum by the Romans, and under Septimius Severus (193-211 CE) it became Colonia Julia Augusta Concordia Felix Beneventum, and was located in Italia.

Roman Sites

  • Arch of Trajan Benevento
  • Roman Theatre of Benevento
    • It is located next to the cathedral, and held seating for 20,000 spectators.
  • Roman Cryptoporticus
  • Arco del Sacramento
  • Ponte Leproso Roman Bridge
  • Roman Baths
    • Located on the road to Avellino.

Museums

  • Museo del Sannio di Benevento
    • Located at Piazza Santa Sofia, 82100, 82100 Benevento
    • This archeological museum holds the Roman Finds from the Campania Region.

Roman Roads

 

Benevento

Classis Pannonica

Bases in Pannonia Inferior

  • The Pannonian Fleet operated west of the Kazan Gorge or Iron Gates to Regensburg. The Fleet may have its origins in 35 BCE, but is confirmed from 45 CE onwards.

Bases of the Classis Moesica in Moesia Inferior

  • East of the Kazan Gorge or Iron Gates
    • Noviodunum, (Isaccea, Roumania)
    • Comagena:
      • Classis Comaginensis
    • Arelape:
      • Classis Arlapensis et Maginensis
    • Lauriacum:
      • Classis Laureacensis
    • Dacia Ripensis:
      • Classis Ratianensis
    • Margo:
      • Classis Stradensis et Germensis

After 390 CE

  • In 390 CE The two fleets were combined into the Classis Histrica
  • Its Home Ports were: Mursa, Florentia, Arruntum, Viminacum and Aegetae.

 

Osijek, Croatia

Strait of Sicily

  • The Strait of Sicily, also known as the Sicilian Narrows, is the Sea between the island of Sicily and Tunisia in Africa. The Romans knew it as Fretum Siculum.
  • The Strait is a major sea lane for world shipping. The island of Pantelleria lies in the centre of the Strait.

 

 

 

Strait of Sicily

Persian Gulf

  • The Persian Gulf, also known as the Arabian Gulf, is an extension of the Indian Ocean through the Strait of Hormuz.
  • The sea is located between Iran and the Arabian Peninsular and is orientated Northwest to Southeast.

Description

  • It is 540 nautical miles (1000 km) in length and 188 nautical miles (350 km) in width.
  • It has an average depth of 130 feet (40m) extending to 390 feet (120m) in the Strait of Hormuz.
  • Due to high evaporation it develops salty water called Persian Gulf Water which flows out into the Gulf of Oman. It is replaced by the inflow of the less salty water of the Indian Ocean.
  • It has rocky and coral reefs, Pearl oysters, and Mangrove swamps.
  • The southern coast is bounded by the Arabian desert, the northern coast by the Iranian mountains.

Strait of Hormuz

  • The only access to the Persian Gulf is from the Indian Ocean through the narrow Strait of Hormuz.
  • It is 21 nm (39 km) at its narrowest point.

The Ancient Cities and Kingdoms of the Persian Gulf

  • Charax Spasinou (In the Region of Kuwait)
  • Gerrha (Location unknown but probably opposite Bahrain)
  • Tylos (Bahrain)
  • Cataraei (Qatar)
  • Sarcoe (Sharjah)
  • Sohar (Oman, Copper mining since 3rd millenium BCE)

Alexander the Great

Trajan

Prevailing Winds In the Persian Gulf

  • Northwesterly winds (Shamal) most of year. Westerly in the South. Southwesterly in Straits of Hormuz.
  • Squalls occur all year round and may reach gale force.
  • December to February, they alternate with South Easterlies ahead of depressions.
  • March to May, less southeasterlies.
  • June to September, persistent Northwesterlies.
  • October to November, some southeasterlies.

Sea Currents in the Persian Gulf

  • An inshore sea current of circulates clockwise in the Persian Gulf. Entering the Strait of Hormuz along the Iranian coast, and leaving along the UAE and Omani coast.
  • The Persian Gulf is relatively shallow with average depth is 130 feet (40m).
  • The Current averages 2 knots, but runs faster through the Strait of Hormuz in both directions, where it can reach almost 5 knots off the Oman peninsular. The inbound current runs along the north of the Strait with the outbound current running to the south.

Prevailing Winds in the Gulf of Oman

  • December to February, prevailing wind is Northwesterly.
  • March to May, occasional southwesterly winds.
  • June to August, prevailing wind is Southeasterly, derived from Southwesterly Monsoon in the Arabian Sea.
  • September to November, fewer Southeasterlies, more Northwesterlies.
  • Visibility is good from November to February. Haze is at its worst in June and July, down to less than 5 miles.
  • Duststorms or Sandstorms can occur throughout the year, when visibility will reduce to less than 500 m.

 

Hagar Qim

  • Hagar Qim is a Megalithic Temple Site loocated on the island of Malta which dates from between c. 3,700-c. 3,200 BCE. It is now a Unesco World Heritage Site. It is adjacent to the Mnajdra Megalithic site.
  • A figurine called the ‘Venus of Malta’ was excavated on the site, which has similarities to other Venus figurines found in Western Europe, some dating back 35,000 years.

Links

 

Hagar Qim Temples, Malta

Dead Sea

  • The Dead Sea, also known as the Salt Sea, lies between Jordan and Israel and is the world’s lowest saline lake at 1,388 ft (423m) below sea level. It is 42 miles long (67 km) and 11 miles wide (18 km).
  • It was located in the Roman Province of Arabia Petraea (106 CE onwards)

Roman Roads

Dead Sea Scrolls

  • The Dead Sea Scrolls are a collection of ancient manuscripts that were found hidden in the Qumrun caves next to the Dead Sea.
  • The Qumrun Caves are located at Qumrun, one mile (2km) from the Dead Sea.

 

Dead Sea

 

Mnajdra

  • Mnajdra is a Megalithc Temple Site in Malta.
  • There are three temples made from Limestone slabs, Upper, Middle and Lower.

Description

  • The Upper temple is the oldest and dates back to c. 3,600-c. 3,200 BCE.
  • The Middle temple dates between c. 3,150-c. 2,500 BCE.
  • The Lower temple also dates between c. 3,150-c. 2,500 BCE and has astronomical alignments.

 

Mnajdra, Malta

Memphis

  • Memphis was the Capital of Ancient Egypt during the Old Kingdom founded by Pharaoh Menes (c.3,200 BCE) and existed until the 7th century BCE.

Ruins

  • The Ruins of Memphis are located 12 miles (20 km) south of modern Cairo.

 

 

 

Ruins of Memphis, south of Cairo