Bematist
Encyclopedia
Bematists were specialists in ancient Greece
who were trained to measure distances by counting their steps.
. Their measurements of the distances traveled by Alexander's army show a high degree of precision to the point that it had been suggested that they must have used an odometer
, although there is no direct mentioning of such a device:
The table below lists distances of the routes as measured by two of Alexander's bematists, Diognetus and Baeton. They were recorded in Pliny's
Naturalis Historia
(NH 6.61–62). Another similar set of measurements is given by Strabo
(11.8.9) following Eratosthenes
.
Notes:
1) 1 mille passus = 1,480 meters or 1,618.5 yards
2) 1 Attic stadion = 606’10’’
3) The route is not recorded to have been followed by Alexander himself.
Addenda: Leaving out the highest outlier each, the average deviation of the rest of the bematists's measurements would be 1.9% with Pliny and 1.5% with Strabo at a measured distance of 1,958 respectively 1,605 miles.
Ancient Greece
Ancient Greece is a civilization belonging to a period of Greek history that lasted from the Archaic period of the 8th to 6th centuries BC to the end of antiquity. Immediately following this period was the beginning of the Early Middle Ages and the Byzantine era. Included in Ancient Greece is the...
who were trained to measure distances by counting their steps.
Measurements of Alexander's bematists
Bematists accompanied Alexander the Great on his campaign in AsiaChronology of the expedition of Alexander the Great into Asia
Chronological summary of the expedition of Alexander the Great into Asia against the Persian Empire of king Darius III, with indication of the countries/places visited or simply crossed, including the most important battles/sieges and the cities founded . The events of the expedition are shown in...
. Their measurements of the distances traveled by Alexander's army show a high degree of precision to the point that it had been suggested that they must have used an odometer
Odometer
An odometer or odograph is an instrument that indicates distance traveled by a vehicle, such as a bicycle or automobile. The device may be electronic, mechanical, or a combination of the two. The word derives from the Greek words hodós and métron...
, although there is no direct mentioning of such a device:
The table below lists distances of the routes as measured by two of Alexander's bematists, Diognetus and Baeton. They were recorded in Pliny's
Pliny the Elder
Gaius Plinius Secundus , better known as Pliny the Elder, was a Roman author, naturalist, and natural philosopher, as well as naval and army commander of the early Roman Empire, and personal friend of the emperor Vespasian...
Naturalis Historia
Naturalis Historia
The Natural History is an encyclopedia published circa AD 77–79 by Pliny the Elder. It is one of the largest single works to have survived from the Roman Empire to the modern day and purports to cover the entire field of ancient knowledge, based on the best authorities available to Pliny...
(NH 6.61–62). Another similar set of measurements is given by Strabo
Strabo
Strabo, also written Strabon was a Greek historian, geographer and philosopher.-Life:Strabo was born to an affluent family from Amaseia in Pontus , a city which he said was situated the approximate equivalent of 75 km from the Black Sea...
(11.8.9) following Eratosthenes
Eratosthenes
Eratosthenes of Cyrene was a Greek mathematician, poet, athlete, geographer, astronomer, and music theorist.He was the first person to use the word "geography" and invented the discipline of geography as we understand it...
.
| Pliny 6.61–62 | Strabo 11.8.9 | Actual Distance | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Route | Milia passuum 1) | English Miles | Deviation | Stadia 2) | English Miles | Deviation | English Miles |
| Northern Caspian Gates – Hecatompylos | — | — | — | 1960 | 225 | 0.8% | 227 main road |
| Southern Caspian Gates – Hecatompylos | 133 | 122 | 2.4% | — | — | — | 125 main road |
| Hecatompylos – Alexandria Areion | 575 | 529 | 0.4% | 4530 | 521 | 1.9% | 531 Silk Route |
| Alexandria Areion – Prophtasia | 199 | 183 | 3.2% | 1600 | 184 | 2.6% | 189 Herat-Juwain |
| Prophtasia – Arachoti Polis | 565 | 520 | 1% | 4120 | 474 | 9.7% | 525 Juwain – Kelat-i-Ghilzai |
| Arachoti Polis – Hortospana | 250 | 230 | 0.4% | 2000 | 230 | 0.4% | 231 main road Kelat-i-Ghilzai – Kabul |
| Hortospana – Alexandria ad Caucasum | 50 | 46 | 2.1% | — | — | — | 47 Kabul – Begram |
| Alexandria ad Caucasum – Peucolatis | 237 | 218 | 3.2% | — | — | — | 211 Begram – Charsada |
| Peucolatis – Taxila | 60 | 55 | 20% | — | — | — | 69 Charsada – Taxila |
| Taxila – Hydaspes (Jhelum) | 120 | 110 | 4.8% | — | — | — | 105 Aurel Stein’s route |
| Alexandria Areion – Bactra – Zariaspa3) | — | — | — | 3870 | 445 | 1.6% | 438 via Kala Nau, Bala Murghab, Maimana and Andkhui |
| Average | 4.2% | 2.8% | |||||
| Median | 2.8% | 1.9% | |||||
Notes:
1) 1 mille passus = 1,480 meters or 1,618.5 yards
2) 1 Attic stadion = 606’10’’
3) The route is not recorded to have been followed by Alexander himself.
Addenda: Leaving out the highest outlier each, the average deviation of the rest of the bematists's measurements would be 1.9% with Pliny and 1.5% with Strabo at a measured distance of 1,958 respectively 1,605 miles.
Sources
- Engels, Donald W.: Alexander the Great and the Logistics of the Macedonian Army, University of California Press, Los Angeles 1978, ISBN 0-520-04272-7