River deep, mountain high

Abstract This chapter discusses the estimates of the size of natural objects, including mountain heights, sea depths, the distances to the Sun and Moon, and the sizes of the Earth and the cosmos, that were offered by Greek and Latin authors. Aristotle and Eratosthenes gave various estimates of the circumference of the Earth. ‘River Deep, Mountain High’ highlights some of the issues involved in understanding the length of a ‘stade’, a measure of distance representing the length of a running track. The chapter explores the writings of Pliny the Elder and others that provide access to some of the scientific ideas of earlier thinkers.

For example, Pliny reports Posidonius’ views about the height at which winds and clouds occur.