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DATE OF THE PERIPLUS, AS DETERMINED BY VARIOUS COMMENTATORS

The dates assigned fall into three groups. The first, which dates the Periplus before Pliny, assumes the trade to have been that which existed under Nero, and includes the possibility that Pliny quoted from or summarized the Periplus in his description of Arabia Felix. The latest date possible under these suppositions is the end of the reign of Malichas, whose inscriptions indicate that he ruled be- tween 40 and 70 A. D.

The second group depends on the identification of Zoscales with Za Hakale in the Abyssinian Chronicle, whose dates were given by Henry Salt as 76 to 89 A. D. The dependence placed on these two dates, on which Salt himself cast doubt, is surprising in view of the fact that he antedated two kings in the list (El Abreha and El Atzbeha) more than 100 years, to bring them within the reigns of the Roman emperors Constantine and Constantius, who are known to have had relations with them; and if so great a liberty can be taken with the monarchs of the fourth century, it seems reasonable to suppose that one of the first century may be a score of years out of his proper order. The supposed confirmation of these dates by mention of contemporary Indian rulers points to an earlier date during the period of their viceroyalties rather than of their reigns.

The third group of identifications depends on the reference in tne text to the “emperors,” assuming this to be a time when there were two Roman emperors reigning jointly. This assumption is entirely unnecessary.

First group:

“In the middle of the first century after Christ, nearly contem- porary with Pliny. ”

Salmasius, Exercitationes Plinianee, 835.

“A little earlier than Pliny.”

Mannert, Geographic der Griechen und Romer aus ihren Schrif- ten dargestellt, Niirnberg, 1799, I, 131.

“Soon after Claudius; about the tenth year of Nero” (which would be 63 A. D.).

Vincent, II, 59.

“Under Claudius or a little later.”

Ukert, Geographic der Griechen und Romer, Weimar, 1816, I, i, 209.