Hecataeus (ca. 550-490 BC)

Geographer and travel writer from Miletus (today's Turkey). He wrote "Trip around the world" (Periodos Ges), where he described local customs, anecdotes etc. in two volumes, one on Europe and one on Asia. The work has only survived in fragments, and included a map as well.

Hecataeus

traveled in Egypt, Persia and Scythia. His father was a wealthy land owner and there are indications the family was involved with trade.

He also wrote "Genealogies", a treatise on noble families and heir relations with mythical heroes. When he described he histories and myths, he liked the stories to be reasonable, and so concluded that the Danaids were 20 and not 50 etc.