The Stadiasmos of the Great Sea is an anonymous ancient sailing guide from the Roman era. The text is dated to the 3rd century CE based on the place names and political geography it describes.
The work is a periplous, a practical manual for sailors navigating the Mediterranean, which was often called the "Great Sea." The text is a systematic catalogue of harbors, safe anchorages, and coastal landmarks around the entire Mediterranean. It lists the distances between these points, measured in the ancient unit of stadia. Its purely technical and utilitarian style offers no details about the author's life or background. The work survives in a single manuscript.
The Stadiasmus is a historical source, providing a direct window into the practical knowledge used for maritime trade and travel in the Roman Empire. The guide is a primary source for ancient economic geography, shipping routes, and navigation techniques. It also serves as an important record for the study of ancient place names along the Mediterranean coast.
Also published as PDF.