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Eudoxus of Cyzicus

Another article treats of Eudoxus of Cnidus.


Eudoxus of Cyzicus (fl. c. 130 BC) (Greek: Ευδοξος) was a Greek navigator who explored the Arabian Sea for Pharaoh Ptolemy VIII of Egypt.

Eudoxus is reported (by Strabo, Geog. II.3.4‑5) to have made a successful voyage to India and returned with a cargo of perfumes and gemstones, which were immediately confiscated by Ptolemy on his return. Eight years later, after Ptolemy VIII's death, Eudoxus made the same trip again, hoping to make a profit this time, but suffered the same fate from the new Pharaoh, Ptolemy IX.

At some stage during his explorations of the Arabian Sea, Eudoxus had been blown off-course and encountered the East Coast of Africa. On the coast of East Africa he found what he was sure were the remains of a ship from Gades in Spain. This led him to believe that the continent could be circumnavigated. He set out to prove his theory, sailing West from Egypt, but only reached as far as Cádiz in what is now Spain. On his second attempt, he reached the West coast of Africa, but was never heard from again as he began his journey South.

Last updated: 05-07-2005 10:47:44
Last updated: 05-13-2005 07:56:04