Comments on what the Romans knew about Alpine Landforms and Processes

During Antiquity times there existed little specific vocabulary pertaining to mountainous relief. Did Romans know what glaciers, crevasses, avalanches, rock falls, seasonal torrential erosion were? Could they estimate the height of the Alps? The phenomenon and dangers of alpine geomorphology were de...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Author: Delphine Acolat
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Institut de Géographie Alpine 2007-09-01
Series:Revue de Géographie Alpine
Subjects:
Online Access:https://journals.openedition.org/rga/328
Description
Summary:During Antiquity times there existed little specific vocabulary pertaining to mountainous relief. Did Romans know what glaciers, crevasses, avalanches, rock falls, seasonal torrential erosion were? Could they estimate the height of the Alps? The phenomenon and dangers of alpine geomorphology were described by Greek and Latin authors of the Roman World mostly to warn the traveller of its consequences, in an attempt to ensure safe passage.
ISSN:0035-1121
1760-7426