An analysis of the latitudinal data of Eratosthenes and Hipparchus (Q278072)

Finding inconsistencies in the latitudinal data attributed to Eratosthenes and Hipparchus, the author concludes that the data concerned originates with Strabo and not with Eratosthenes. The reason why Eratosthenes' latitudinal distances Alexandria -- Hellespont -- Borysthenes are grossly erroneous is found in the fact that, according to Strabo, ``it was generally agreed that the sea route Alexandria -- Borysthenes is a straight line'', so the latitudinal differences Alexandria -- Hellespont and Hellespont -- Borysthenes were ``based on the lengths of the sea routes, which were supposed to take course along the meridian''. The author also determines the location of Pytheas' Thule as a region of Norway west of the Scandinavian Mountains, and establishes the value Eratosthenes took for the obliquity of the ecliptic: \(23^{\circ}40'\). A similar analysis is performed with Hipparchus' data.