Inizia qui, il lungo viaggio alla scoperta della rotta del Sud tra Africa ed India
La traduzione che propongo, segue il più fedelmente possibile l’originale inglese che a sua volta è stato tradotto dal greco.
Per rendere più viva la narrazione l’ho arricchita di mappe che indicano i luoghi descritti dal viaggio. Le località individuate sono quelle attualmente più accreditate dagli studi archeologici e storici. I nomi delle località sulle cartine, sono sempre indicati con il nome originale del racconto e tra parentesi il nome attuale della città o della località (se presente).
I testi tra parentesi tonde sono i miei per facilitare la lettura.
Le foto di corredo al testo sono foto reali dei luoghi come attualmente si presentano al viaggiatore.
E’ in progetto di arricchire il testo con ulteriori informazioni storiche specifiche riguardo ai luoghi visitati per fornire un più ampio contesto generale alla narrazione.
Buon viaggio.
Introduzione
Il Periplus Maris Erythraei (o “Viaggio attorno al Mare Eritreo”) è un lavoro anonimo datato circa la metà del I secolo d.C., scritto da un mercante Egiziano in lingua greca and showing the trade situation at the time of Augustus (at the turn of the birth of Christ).
The first part (sections 1-18) describes the north-south sea routes from Egypt to the east coast of Africa to the modern Tanzania. The second part sets out on the East-West trade routes that depart from Egypt, circumnavigate the Arabian peninsula, and across the Persian Gulf to the west coast of India. From the description
lively and detailed, it is considered that the author has traveled throughout the lands described.
The final chapters describe the east coast of India to the mouth of the Ganges and include reports sulle terre sconosciute situate più a Nord.
L’autore descrive le lunghezze e le condizioni delle rotte, gli empori chiave ed i punti di ancoraggio, la predisposizione dei nativi, e le merci importate o esportate di ciascuna regione.
Siccome i monsoni annuali erano la chiave per il viaggio verso l’India, l’autore segnala, di tanto in tanto, il mese nel quale occorre partire dall’Egitto per raggiungere la località indicata.
Misure: 10 stadi greci sono l’equivalente di 1 miglio inglese o di 1,6 kilometri
Il Periplus Maris Erythraei - Parte prima (Dall'Egitto alla Tanzania)
1. Of the designated ports on the Eritrean Sea, and the market town built around them, the first (we meet) is the Egyptian port of Mussel (Myos Hormos was called by the Greeks). 
for vessels sailing south from here, on the right bank, after 1800 stadiums will Berenice. The ports of both cities are on the borders of Egypt, and bays are open to the Eritrean Sea. 
2. On the right bank (the Red Sea) just south of Berenice, there is the land of the Berbers (or barbaroi, "foreigners" traditionally were called so all the people who did not speak greek). 
Along the coast are the " fish eaters, who live in neighboring caves in the narrow valleys. Farther inland are the Berbers, and behind them the "eaters of raw meat " and "calf eaters, both governed by their tribal leaders, and behind them, even within directly to the west, lies a city called Meroe. 
3. To the south of the "calf eaters," on the coast, incontra una piccola città-mercato, dopo aver navigato per circa 4.000 stadi da Berenice, che si chiama Tolomeo dei Cacciatori, dalla quale i cacciatori partono verso l’interno sotto la protezione della dinastia dei Tolomei. In questa città-mercato si trovano le vere tartarughe di terra in piccola quantità; sono di colore bianco e dalla corazza piccola. 
E qui ho anche trovato un po’ di avorio, come quello che si trova ad Adulis (altro porto molto più a sud). Ma il posto non ha porto ed è raggiungibile solo da piccole barche. 
4. A sud di Tolomeo dei Cacciatori, ad una distanza di circa 3000 stadiums, there Adulis, a port founded by law, built at the end of a bay that faces south. Before the bay meets the so-called mountainous island, about 200 steps directly in front of the end of the bay, with the coasts of the surrounding land on both sides. 
Vessels bound for this port, dock here now, because of the attacks from the mainland. Previously docked at the end of the bay to an island called Diodorus, close to the shore, which can be reached by walking from the ground, from which the barbarous natives attacked the island. 
Opposite the Island Mountain Range on the mainland, 20 steps from the shore, is Adulis, a good-sized village, from which, in three days of walking, you can get to Colo, a city of the Interior and the main market for ivory. 
From this city (Colo), leading to the city which the natives call Auxumites, there are another five days' journey; 
Auxumites to get all the ivory from the land behind the Nile through Cyeneum called the district, and here is brought to Adulis. 
Virtually the entire number of killed elephants and rhinos living in the hinterland, although they are rarely driven on the coast, also near Adulis. 
Before Adulis port, at sea, on the right, there is a large sandy island called Alalaei, where there are turtle shells, brought to market by Adulis " fish eaters." 
5. And about 800 to stage further, there is another very deep bay, with a large sand hill to the right of the bit, which is located at the end of obsidian, and this is the only place where it is produced. These places, the areas of " veal eaters" to Berbere other lands, are governed by Zoscales, living miserably and look better, but who are well educated on Greek literature.
6. They are found in these places import goods, textiles made in Egypt for the Berbers, dressed as Arsinoe, very low-quality garments stained linen double weave robes, and many low-quality glassware, and others in murrine, made Diospolis, and brass is used for ornamental purposes or in place of money, sheets of soft copper, used to make kitchen utensils, or cut to make bracelets and anklets for women, iron, that produces spears to skewer the elephants and other wild beasts, and in war. Are also imported small Axes, hatchets and swords, copper cups, round and wide with a little 'money to those who go to market wine to Laodicea and Italy, not much, olive oil, not much, for the king, gold and silver plates modeled after the fashion of the country, and for clothing, military cloaks, and thin coats in leather, of little value. Also from the district Ariaca (in India), through this sea, importing Indian iron and steel, and bales of Indian cotton, light-colored clothes called sagimtogene, and corsets, and cloaks of purple leather and textiles, cotton textiles and rare up, and colored bracelets. Are exported ivory, tortoise shells and rhinoceros horns. The majority of goods arriving from Egypt arrive between January and September, but you put in sea seasonally around the month of September.
7. From here, turn the Arabian Gulf in the east, just before the narrows of the Gulf of Avalites. After about 4000 stadia, for those sailing eastward along the same coast, meet other Berber market-towns, known as "very distant ports; arise at intervals, one after another, with no real leads, but with small coves, where ships can anchor and stay in calm waters. The first is called Avalites, the shorter trip to get there is from Arabia. 
Here is a small market town che si può raggiungere con barche e zattere. Si trovano merci di importazione, vasi assortiti in vetro decorato; succhi acidi di grappa da Diospolis; tessuti per vestiti assortiti, fatti per i Berberi; frumento, vino, e piccoli barattoli. 
Vengono esportate merci sia da qui che, a volte, dagli stessi Berberi che attraversano il mare su zattere verso Ocelis e Muza sulla costa opposta; spezie, un po’ di avorio, gusci di tartaruga, e molto poca mirra, ma meglio che niente. Ed i Berberi che vivono in questo posto sono molto indisciplinati. 
8. Dopo Avalites si incontra un’altra città-mercato, migliore di questa, chiamata Malao, distante about 800 stages. The anchor is an inlet open, protected by a strip of land to the east. 
Here the natives are more peaceful. They imported the goods mentioned above, and many tunics, cloaks from Arsinoe, processed and stained for beverage cups, plates of copper in small quantity, iron, and gold and silver coins, not many. 
is exported myrrh, a little 'of frankincense known as the "far", the more spicy cinnamon, nutmeg and resins from India, which are imported into Arabia; and slaves, but rarely. 
9. After two or three days at sea you come to the market town of Mundus, where the ship can find a better and safer anchorage behind an island coast. 
are imported and exported goods already mentioned in addition to incense called "mocrotu. And the traders living here are more clever. 
10. Continuing beyond Mundus, sailing toward the east, after another two days, or three, Mosyllum reach, on a beach with a bad landing point. 
are imported the same goods already mentioned, in addition to silver plates, very little iron, and glass. They exported a large amount of cinnamon (and therefore require large ships to this market-town), and fragrant gums (resins), spices, a bit 'of turtle shells, incense and "mocrotu" (of lower quality than of Mundus), frankincense, ivory and myrrh in small quantities. 
11. Sailing along the coast over Mosyllum, after two days come across the so-called Little Nile ", and a small clearing and a small forest of laurels, and Cape Elephant. 
Then back off the coast forming a large bay, where a river flows, chiamato Elefante, ed un grande bosco di allori chiamato Acanna; qui viene prodotto l’incenso “frankincense” in grande quantità e della migliore qualità. 
12. Oltre a questa località, la costa punta verso sud, e si incontra il Mercato e il Capo delle Spezie, un ripido promontorio alla fine della costa dei Berberi in direzione est. L’ancoraggio è reso pericoloso dai marosi che si frangono sulla costa, perché il luogo è esposto a Nord. 
Uno dei segni dell’arrivo di una tempesta, è che le acque profonde diventano più torbide e cambiano di colore. 
Quando succede questo, all run away to a large promontory called Taba, which provides a safe haven. Import goods in this market are the same as already mentioned, and there is a production of cinnamon (in its different varieties, gizir, asypha, RAEB, knitting, and motorcycles) and frankincense. 
13. In addition Taba, after 400 steps, is the village of Pano. And having sailed 400 stadia along a promontory, on the tide, you find another market-town called Opon, in which the same goods are imported already mentioned, is produced and where the most amount of cinnamon (RAEB and varieties movement), and where are the slaves of the best quality, which are sent to Egypt in increasing quantities; 
and a large quantity of turtle shells, better than those found in other places. 14. The journey to these remote market town in Egypt should begin towards the end of July.
And the ships must be fully charged, and from Ariaca Barygaza, bringing to these far away places export products, wheat, rice, clarified butter, sesame oil, textiles, belts, red and honey quality call saccharata . Some make the trip directly to these market-towns, and other selling and buying merchandise during the il viaggio. Questi posti non sono soggetti ad un Re, ma ogni singola città-mercato è guidata dal proprio capo. 
15. Dopo Opone, la costa tende ancora verso sud, prima si incontrano le piccole e grandi scogliere di Azania; su questa costa non si incontrano porti, ma vi sono posti dove le navi possono trovare un ancoraggio, le coste diventano ripide; e questo tratto è di sei giorni, la direzione diventa sud-ovest. 
Poi arrivano le grandi e piccole spiagge, per altri sei giorni di viaggio e dopo di queste, in ordine, le Rotte di Azania , la prima chiamata Sarapion e l’altra Nicon; e dopo aver incontrato vari fiumi ed altri ancoraggi, uno after the other, separated by a day and a night, seven in all to the islands Pyralae homonymous canal; 
addition to which, a little 'south of south-west, after two long days and nights Ausanitic the coast, lies the island Menuthias, about 300 stadia from land, low and full of forests, and rivers where they meet many breeds of birds and turtles in the mountains. 
There are no wild beasts except the crocodiles, but do not attack humans. In this island are sewn boats, and canoes made from a single trunk, which they use for fishing and for hunting turtles.
Here the hunt with a special technique, with wicker baskets, which they quickly cross the channel between the breakers. 
16. After two days longer in navigation, we meet the latest market town in the country of Azania, which is called Rhapta, its name is derived from the sewed boats (rhapton ploiarion) already mentioned, here is ivory in great quantity, and shells of turtles. 
Along this coast live men addicted to piracy, very big in stature, and in groups under different leaders in each village. The head of government Mapharitic governs them through ancient rights that give it sovereignty over this which became the first state of Arabia. 
And the people of Muza now takes them under his authority, and sent to this place many large ships, using masters and agents (commercial) Arabs, who are familiar to the natives and often married with the indigenous and know the whole coast and understand their language. 
17. Here are imported manufactured Muza spears, and hatchets and daggers and awls, and various types of glass bowls, and small quantities of wine, wheat, not for commerce, but to maintain good relations with the Indians. 
Here are exported large quantities of ivory, but less than to Adulis, and rhinoceros horns and shells of turtles (which are also required in India), and a little 'palm oil. 18. And these markets of Azania are truly the last of the continent that stretches south from Berenice, right on the coast, beyond these places the unexplored ocean curve to the west and runs towards the regions in the south of Ethiopia, Libya and of 'Africa, mingles with the western sea.
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