Note 528 — BOOK III[496]
Alexander Teixeira de Mattos translation
Claudius Ptolemæus, known as Ptolemy (fl.. 150), the famous Alexandrian astronomer, geographer and mathematician:
"Ptolemy believed that the sun, planets and stars revolved round the earth. His error in calculating the circumference of the globe warranted Columbus in supposing that the distance from the western coast of Europe to the eastern coast of Asia was about one-third less than it actually is; and thus encouraged the enterprise which led to the discovery of America" (Jebb: Greek Literature, Part III. Chap. II.: From Augustus to Justinian).—T