Attana
| Author:Laxman Burdak, IFS (R) |
Attana was a town of Arabia mentioned by Pliny.[1]
Variants
Jat Gotras Namesake
- Attwal = Attana (Pliny.vi.32).
- Attwal = Attene (Pliny.vi.32)
Mention by Pliny
Pliny [2] mentions Arabia.... Fifty miles from the coast, lying in the interior, is the region of Attene, and opposite to Gerra is the island of Tylos18, as many miles distant from the shore; it is famous for the vast number of its pearls, and has a town of the same name; in its vicinity there is a smaller island,19 distant from a promontory on the larger one twelve miles and a half. They say that beyond this large islands may be seen, upon which no one has ever landed: the circumference of the smaller island is one hundred and twelve miles and a half; and it is more than that distance from the Persian coast, being accessible by only one narrow channel.
18 The modern island of Bahrein, according to Brotier, still famous for its pearl-fishery.
Mention by Pliny
Pliny [3] mentions Arabia......... Beyond this, the navigation is impracticable on that side,21 according to Juba, on account of the rocks; and he has omitted all mention of Batrasave22, a town of the Omani, and of the city of Omana23, which former writers have made out to be a famous port of Carmania24; as also of Homna and Attana, towns which at the present day, our merchants say, are by far the most famous ones in the Persian Sea.
21 On the Arabian side of the Persian Gulf.
22 Considered by modern geographers to be identical in situation with the Black Mountains and the Cape of Asabi, and still marked by a town and district named Sabee, close to Cape Mussendom.
23 In the modern district still called Oman.
24 On the opposite coast.