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Syrtis or
“the quicksands”
of Acts 27:17
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Where is it?
Abstract:
The word used in Textus
Receptus Acts 27:17 is Syrtis (Gr. σύρτις.) Most likely this is
a reference to Syrtis Minor
and not to Syrtis Major,
considering that the captain of the ship most likely knew the direction of the
wind and the direction from Clauda towards Sicily, Malta, Syrtis Minor, and
Syrtis Major, respectively, but not necessarily the exact speed and location of
the ship from moment to moment as it was drifting sail less along with the
wind. Based on what is known about the direction of the ship’s drift, from Clauda to
Syrtis Minor
The Syrtis Minor is the Latin name used in Ancient Rome for
the gulf of the Mediterranean Sea along the
coast of North Africa,
roughly from modern day Tripoli to Sfax, Tunisia.
Syrtis is referred to in the Bible in Acts 27:10-19,
which tells the story of the Apostle Paul being sent in chains to
Map showing
Clauda is the small island south of Khaniá,
Syrtis Minor is the bay between Tripoli in Libya and Sfax in Tunisia (cf. the subsequent map below showing
Syrtis Minor, Syrtis Major, and Malta,) including the shallow waters north and
northeast of Jarjís; and
Syrtis Major is the same as
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Map showing
Syrtis Minor, Syrtis Major, and
Syrtis Minor is the bay between Tripoly
in
Syrtis Major is the same as
.
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Map showing
Clauda
Clauda is referenced in Acts 27:16 .
Clauda
is the same as GÁVDHOS on the map, located south of
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Map showing
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“The quicksands” (KJV)
ειςτηνσυρτιν, Into the syrt. There were two famous syrts, or quicksands, on the African coast; one
called the syrtis major, lying near the
coast of Cyrene; and the other, the syrtis
minor, not far from Tripoli. Both these, like our
Syrtis, The
(Acts 27:17)
in the Revised Version in place of “quicksands” in the Authorized Version. It
was the well-known Syrtis Major,
the terror of all Mediterranean
sailors. “It is a dangerous shallow on the coast of Africa, between
Arabic Khalij Surt , Italian
Golfo Della Sirte ,
historically Syrtis Major
arm of the Mediterranean Sea, indenting the Libyan coast, northern
Gulf of Sidra
The Gulf of Sidra is a
body of water in the Mediterranean Sea of the
northern coast of Libya; it is also known as
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The Roman Empire ca. 120 AD, with the
Cyrenaica is the eastern coastal region of Libya.
[edit]
Cyrenaica was a Roman
province
on the northern coast of Africa between Egypt and Numidia; it had been formerly Greek.
That area is now the eastern part of the Mediterranean
coast of
The east of the province was called Marmarica (no
major city), but the important part was in the west, comprizing five cities,
hence known as the Pentapolis— Cyrene
(near the village of Shahat) with its port of Apollonia (Marsa Susa), Arsinoe (Tocra),
Berenice (modern Benghazi) and Barca (Merj)— of which the chief was the eponymous Cyrene.
After the earthquake of 365
the capital was moved to Ptolemais. In the south
(South Carolina
Geographic Alliance)
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