Taprobana — A research by Dhani Irwanto

© Dhani Irwanto 2025
Taprobana
A research since 2015 by Dhani Irwanto

Taprobana, Tapobrana, Topobrana
1
Various locations of
Taprobana on the old
maps (indicated by ).
Also shown Sri Lanka
and Sumatra
(indicated by ).

Taprobana, Tapobrana, Topobrana
2
Sri Lanka, Sumatra,
and Taprobana appear
together on several
occasions, indicating
that Taprobana is
other than Sri Lanka
and Sumatra.
Taprobana was
replaced by Borneo in
1564 CE.

3
Name of Taprobana
The ancient name of Kalimantan/Borneo Island is
Baruna Pura. Baruna is the sea or water god and
“pura” means “place” or “abode”, then Baruna Pura
ultimately means “the abode of the God Baruna”.
Altered Names
Baruna Pura
Ancient name of
Kalimantan/Borneo
Locals:
• Barunai
• Brunei
Portuguese:
• Burnéi
• Bornei
Chinese:
• Bo Ni
Dutch/English:
• Borneo
Greek/Romans:
• Topo* Baruna
• Topo Brana
• Topro Bana
• Tapro Bana
* “Topo” means “place”
or “locus” in Greek.
Baruna Pura

4
Geography of Taprobana
Borneo/
Kalimantan
Sulawesi
Java
Mindanao
Equator
Eratosthenes (ca 220
BCE):
• Located in Eastern sea,
lies extended opposite to
Greater India.
• 7,000 stadia (≈ 1,300 km)
in length, and 5,000
(≈ 925 km) in width.
Strabo (ca 25 BCE):
• Enjoying two summers
and two winters.
• 4 days’ sail to Coliacum
(Malaya Peninsula).
• Midway laid “the island
of the Sun [worshipper]”.
• Sea with greenish tint,
numerous trees [corals],
rudders broke off.
• Surrounding sea mostly
shallow.
Greenish tint,
numerous corals,
shallow sea

5
Environment of Taprobana
Pliny (ca 50 CE):
• Local chief Rachia [Rajah
of the Dayaks].
• Port of Hippuri [Tanjung
Puri].
Ptolemy (ca 150 CE):
• Name altered to Salike
[Tanjung Salaka].
Periplus Maris Erythraei
(1st century CE):
• Name altered to
Palaesimundu.
• Azania [Kahayan] River
• Pearls, transparent
stones, muslins and
tortoise shell.
Cosmas Indicopleustes
(6th century CE):
• Known as Serendib
[Nusa Kencana, gold
island].
Borneo/
Kalimantan
Strabo (ca 25 BCE):
• 200,000 population.
• Palaesimundus
[Banjarmasin] was the
famous place.
• Prachii [Banjar] colonists
• A large lake [swamp]
called Megisba.
• 3 rivers, 5 – 15 stadia
[925 – 2775 m] wide,
northward.
• Corals, pearls, and
precious stones.
• Fruitful soil; fruits other
than vine; >100 years life.
• Chased tigers and
elephants, fished,
catched giant turtles.
• Maritime and highly
commercial.
• Traded with China.
• Carried birds [helmeted
hornbills] to navigate.
Palaesimundus
[Banjarmasin]
3 rivers
Lake [swamp]
Salike
[Tanjung Salaka]
Bornean
hornbill
Bornean
giant turtle
Bornean
tiger
Bornean
elephant
 Corals, pearls,
gemstones, muslins,
tortoise shells
 Gold island
 Fruitful soil
 Tigers, elephants,
fishes, giant turtles
 Maritime and highly
commercial
 Trade with China
 Birds to navigate
 Chief Rachia [Rajah]
 Prachii [Banjar]
colonists
Bornean
gemstones

Geographic Names Identification
6
Geographic names and
positions as mentioned by
Ptolemy are identified by
correlating them with
those in the old maps and
their modern names.
Compass and GPS were
not invented in the
Ptolemy’s time so that the
map has very low quality
in terms of scale,
orientation and
geographic locations.
The maps here show the
development of
Kalimantan/Borneo maps
from 16th to 19th centuries.
Giacomo Gastaldi, 1548
Jan Huygen Van Linschoten, 1596
Gerard Mercator, 1619
Giovanni Battista Ramusio, 1554
Petrus Plancius, 1598
Petrus Bertius, 1627
Abraham Ortelius, 1570
Willem Lodewycksz, 1598
Ioão Teixeira, 1630
Hondius Jodocus, 1606
Johannes Cloppenburgh, 1632
Petrus Bertius, 1616
Joan Janssonius, 1638

7
Willem Blaeu, 1650
Bowrey, 1701
Pierre Vander, 1725
Frederik de Wit, 1662
Pieter Vander, 1706
Herman Moll, 1726
Pierre Duval, 1680
Ioachim Ottens, 1710
Christoph Homanno, 1730
Alain Manesson Mallet, 1683
Herman Moll, 1719
Isaac Tirion, 1740
Giovanni Giacomo De Rossi, 1687
John Senex, 1721
Nicolaus Bellin, 1747
Robert Morden, 1688
Nicholas de Fer and J Robbe, 1721
Robert de Vaugondy, 1762
Vincenzo Maria Coronelli, 1689
Chevigny, 1723
Thomas Salmon, 1766

8
M Bonne, 1770
Ambrosse Tardieu, 1810
M Bonne, 1771
Pinkerton, 1818
Antonio Zatta, 1776
David H Burr, 1835
Thomas Jefferys, 1778
Tallis, 1851
M Bonne, 1780
Joseph Hutchins Colton, 1855
Clement Cruttwell, 1799
JH de Bussy, 1893
John Cary, 1801
Richard Andree, 1895

9
Ptolemy’s name Type
Cetęum Cape
Old map names
Gras Cocan, Catalan, Satalang, Salaton, Salatan
Identified name
Tanjung Selatan
“Tanjung” means
“cape”, “promontory”
or “peninsula”. Tanjung
Selatan is a significant
promontory located
at the southeastern
part of Kalimantan.
PTOLEMY RECONSTRUCTED PRESENT

10
Nanigiri Region
Old map names
Negara, Nagarra
Identified name
Negara (village, river)
Negara was a known
place name and
frequently mentioned
in the old maps, now a
village and a river
name in South
Kalimantan Province.
M Bonne, 1771

11
Baracus River
Old map names
Bandermachri, Banjar Massin, Sucadanna
Identified name
Barito River
Some maps show
Barito River as Banjar
River, Banjarmasin
River or misplaced as
Sukadana River.

12
Nacaduma Place
Old map names
Mandoemai
Identified name
Mandomai
Mandoemai is
mentioned on the
1896 Dutch map.
Mandomai is now a
village in the region of
Kapuas Barat
Subdistrict, Kapuas
Regency, Central
Topographisch Bureau Batavia, 1896

13
Bachi Social body
Old map names
Bancy, Paco, Biajo, Bander, Banjar
Identified name
Banjar people
Banjar is an ethnic
group in southern
Kalimantan and
formed a kingdom of
Banjarmasin from
1520 to 1860.
Banjar people were
travellers; some of
them had travelled to
many places in the
archipelago and set
up pockets of
settlement.
Megasthenes
described Taprobana
was inhabited by
Prachii colonists, this
could be the Banjar
people.

14
Corcobara Place
Old map names
Tamiampura, Taiampura, Taiapura, Taiaopura,
Taiaopuro, Tanjapura
Identified name
Tanjungpura
Tanjungpura is a name
of an ancient
kingdom. Based on
the old maps, its
location was not
static but mostly at
the south and
southwest coast of
Borneo.

15
Orneon Extreme
Old map names
Simanauw
Identified name
Sebangau
“Orneo”, “ornis” and
“ornêon” in Latin mean
“bird”, “fowl” or
“heron”.
“Bangau” in local
language means
“hern”, “heron”,
“stork” or “egret”.
Sebangau is now the
name of a river and a
bay at the southern
coast of Borneo.
Pinkerton, 1818

16
Azanus River
Old map names
–
Identified name
Kahayan River
There are several
rivers with the name
of Kayan (or Kahayan)
in Borneo. Kayan is
also the name of
several Dayak tribes.
Azanus is probably
the Kahayan River in
Central Kalimantan.
The Periplus Maris
Erythraei indicates
that the southern part
of the region trends
gradually toward the
west, and almost
touches the shore of
Azania (or Azanus).

17
Nubartha Social body
Old map names
Sambuer, Sambaur, Sambor, Sobar, Sambar,
Sambahar, Sambbae, Samban
Identified name
Sambar people
Tanjung Sambar is a
cape in the Muara
Kandawangan
National Park.
Herman Moll, 1726

18
Louis Extreme
Old map names
Lao, Lave, Laue, Lava, Laua, Lawa
Identified name
Lawi, Lawai
Lawi or Lawai is an
ancient city in the
Ketapang Regency.
The name is
on the old maps but
the exact location is
controverted. Tomé
Pires, a Portuguese
explorer, described it
as an area rich of
diamonds, four-day
shipping distance
from Tanjompure
(Tanjungpura).
Lawi is also the name
of a river, a tributary
of Kayan River.

19
Vlispada Place
Old map names
Amarang Badak, Pembuang Badak,
Pembaringan Badak
Identified name
Bukit Raya
Mountain range
Amarang Badak,
Pembuang Badak and
Pembaringan Badak
appear as a hill name
on the old maps
located at the
upstream of the
present Pembuang
River. The present
name is unknown,
probably Tukung Hill or
Mount Nyatung as they
are located at the
upstream of the
Pembuang River. These
hill and mount are
located in the present
Bukit Raya mountain
range, the highest peak
in Kalimantan Island.

20
Malea Mountain
Old map names
Melahoei, Melawai, Melawi
Identified name
Melawi
Melawi is the name of
a regency in West
Kalimantan Province,
also the name of a
river, located and has
its headwaters on the
Schwaner-Muller, a
mountain range with
highest peaks in
Kalimantan.
EG Ravenstein, 1867

21
Anubingara Place
Old map names
Condawanga
Identified name
Kendawangan
Kendawangan is a
small town at the
estuary of
Kendawangan River.
John Cary, 1801

Priapides Port
Old map names
Tamaratas, Tamaratos, Tamarates, Tameorato,
Iamanatos, Hormata, Carimata
Identified name
Cempedak, Karimata
Tamaratos and
Hormata frequently
appear in the old
maps.
Cempedak is now the
names of two islands,
off the coast of the
port Siduk, Sukadana.
Karimata is now the
name of an island off
the coast of Ketapang
and a strait
separating
Kalimantan and
Sumatra.
22

• Sindocanda
• Sandocandę
• Social body
• Region
Old map names
Succadano, Succaduno, Succudana, Succadana,
Socadana, Sucadana
Identified name
Sukadana
Sukadana is
in the old maps; it was
an ancient kingdom
with its products are
diamonds and iron.
Sukadana is now the
capital city of North
Kayong Regency,
West Kalimantan
Province.
Robert Morden, 1688
23

Poduce Place
Old map names
Landa, Salimbau
Identified name
Sekadau
Landa is frequently
mentioned in the old
maps; this is probably
Sekadau located at
the bank of Kapuas
River. Sekadau is now
the names of a
regency and also its
capital, in West
24

• Soana
• Soani
• River
• Region
Old map names
Sonee, Senar, Soné, Sone, Sona, Soengi
Identified name
Sungai [Sambas],
Sungai [Kapuas]
The names are found
on 18th and 19th century
maps indicating the
three rivers around the
Main Sambas River,
literary mean “river”
(“sungai”).
These are written as
Sone Sambas, Sone
Luban and Sone
Nangor.
The “sungai” can also
mean Kapuas River. It
originates in the Müller
mountain range at the
center of the island
and flows west into
the South China Sea.
25

Anaris Cape
Old map names
Sisar, Soric, Siric
Identified name
Tanjung Sirik
Tanjung Sirik is a cape
located in Sarikei
Division, Sarawak
Tallis, 1851
25

• Anurogrammum
• Anurogrammi
• Place
• Region
Old map names
–
Identified name
Region of
Dayak people
Anurogrammum is in
close resemblance to
Anurognathus, a genus
of small pterosaur. The
indigenous Dayak
people are hornbill
admirers, have many
myths and legends in
which hornbills are
envoys of the gods with
the task of conveying
divine messages. The
Anurogrammum is
allegedly meant
“hornbill admirer”, ie the
Dayak people.
27

Iogana Social body
Old map names
Malano, Malona, Melanoege
Identified name
Melanau people
Melanau people are
an ethnic group
native to Sarawak,
the fifth largest group
(after Iban, Chinese,
Malays and Bidayuh),
but forms a large part
of Sarawak’s political
sphere.
The Melanau are
considered among
the earliest settlers in
Sarawak, at first
settled in scattered
communities along
the main tributaries of
the Rajang River in
Central Sarawak.
28

Margana Social body
Old map names
–
Identified name
Miri people
Miri town is named
after a minority ethnic
group called “Jatti
Meirek” or simply
“Mirek”, or “Miriek”.
This ethnic group is
the earliest settlers in
the region of Miri
Division, Sarawak.
29

• Galiba
• Galibi
• Extreme
• Region, mountain
Old map names
Balaba, Balabac, Balambacan, Labbok
Identified name
Balabac, Sabah,
Balambangan, Teluk Labuh
Balabac is the southern-
most island of the
Palawan province in the
Philippines. The Molbogs,
which is also referred to
as Molebugan or
Molebuganon are
concentrated in the island.
The Molbogs allegedly
migrated from North
Borneo, related to the
Tidung or Tirum people, an
indigenous group found in
the northeast coast of
Sabah since they have
similar dialect and socio-
cultural practices.
The names of Sabah,
Balambangan Island and
Teluk Labuk might also be
derived from the same
name.
30
Ambrosse Tardieu, 1810

Talakori Market
Old map names
Cancirao, Cancyra, Canciaro, Cancerao,
Cancorao, Cancirau
Identified name
Keningau, Kinarut
The place frequently appear
in the 17th and 18th century
maps. The exact place is not
known, possibly Keningau, a
district in the Interior Division,
Sabah. It is the oldest and
largest town in the interior
part of Sabah. During the
British colonial era, Keningau
was one of the most
important administrative
centres in British North
Borneo.
Other possibility is the town
of Kinarut belongs to the
Papar District, in the state of
Sabah. It was originally
belonged to the Sultanate of
Brunei. During the Brunei Civil
War, Sultan Abdul Hakkul
Mubin built a base in Kinarut
at a strategic location
protected by two rivers and
remained there for ten years
as the Sultan of Kinarut.
31

• Modutti
• Mudutti
• Market
• Region
Old map names
Marudo, Malloodoo
Identified name
Marudu, region of
Murut people
Marudu is a town and a
district located in the
Kudat Division of the
state of Sabah.
The Murut are an
indigenous ethnic group,
inhabiting northern inland
regions of Borneo,
literally means “hill
people”. A large
percentage of the Murut
communities are in the
southwest interior of
Sabah, specifically the
districts of Keningau,
Tenom, Nabawan and
Pensiangan, along the
Sapulut and Padas rivers.
The Murut were the last
of Sabah’s ethnic groups
to renounce headhunting.
32

Phasis River
Old map names
Sisar, Sisor
Identified name
Sapi River
Sapi River is located in
Sabah; its
headwaters are in the
mountains of
southwest Sabah; its
outlet is at the Sulu
Sea, north of
Sandakan.
Herman Moll, 1726
33

Anubingara Social body
Old map names
–
Identified name
Lun Bawang people
The Lun Bawang
(formerly known as
Southern Murut) is an
ethnic group found in
Central Northern
Borneo. They are
indigenous to the
highlands of North
Kalimantan (Krayan,
Malinau and Long
Bawan), Brunei
(Temburong District),
southwest of Sabah
(Interior Division) and
northern region of
Sarawak (Limbang
Division).
34

Nagadiba Social body
Old map names
–
Identified name
Negaradipa people
Negaradipa was a
kingdom located in the
interior of South
Kalimantan. Its capital was
originally at Candi Laras,
Margasari, near the
downstream of Bahan
River at its tributary, then
they moved to the
upstream at Candi Agung,
Amuntai. As well as some
tribes in Borneo, before
establishing their empire
they were tribal societies.
Possibly, Negaradipa was
a tribe before establishing
their kingdom. The tribes
in Kalimantan are
generally nomadic and the
tribe of Negaradipa was
not necessarily located at
the kingdom of
Negaradipa.
35

• Maagrammum
• Ganges
• Town
• River
Old map names
Bamcamanican, Pomanakam, Markaman
Identified name
• Muarakaman
• Mahakam River
Muarakaman, located in
East Kalimantan Province,
is known as the existence
of stone manuscripts
dated around 4th century
CE, written in Pallava
alphabet and Sanskrit
language, considered as
the oldest inscription
existing in Indonesia. A
Brahmin (Hindu) kingdom is
attested by the
manuscripts, located in
Muarakaman, precisely in
the bank of Mahakam
River.
Several places sacred to
Hindus lie along the banks
of rivers and named the
rivers as Ganges.
Mahakam River where
Muarakaman was
considered as the Ganges.
36

Spatana Port
Old map names
–
Identified name
Bontang
Bontang is a port
town in East Kutai
Regency, East
Kalimantan Province,
located at the
eastern coast of
Kalimantan.
37

Procuri Social body
Old map names
Pasir, Pafsir, Passier, Passeir, Passir
Identified name
Dayak Paser people
The Dayak Paser is an
indigenous ethnic
group found in
southeastern
Kalimantan. Dayak
Paser people are
possibly have alliance
with the Dayak
Lawangan, a clump of
the Dayak Ot Danum.
They formed a
kingdom namely
Sadungaras (later
Pasir Sultanate) from
the 16th to the early
20th centuries. Paser is
now a regency in East
38

Cumara Island
Old map names
–
Identified name
Semaras, Laut Island
Semaras is a place
name located in
western coast of Laut
Island, South
39

Alaba Island
Old map names
Alambai, Calamba, Calambua, Calaubua, Calabo
Identified name
Kalambau Islands
Kalambau are islands
located off the south
coast of Kalimantan in
the Java Sea.
Administratively, the
islands belong to the
province of South
Kalimantan.
40
Antonio Zatta, 1776

Arana Island
Old map names
Arents, Arentes, Arantel, Keramian
Identified name
Karamian Islands
Karamian is an atoll
island located off the
south coast of
Kalimantan in the
Java Sea.
island belongs to the
province of East Java.
41
Antonio Zatta, 1776

Balaca Island
Old map names
Balachaia, Balacuan, Blacana, Ciombra, Solambo,
Solonbo, Solombo, Somanbo
Identified name
Masalembo Islands
Masalembo are
islands located off the
south coast of
Kalimantan in the
Java Sea.
42

Bassa Island
Old map names
Lu-bok, Lu-beck, Lu-bec, Lu-bek,
Baboan, Bawean
Identified name
Bawean Island
Bawean is an island
located off the south
coast of Kalimantan
and northern Java, in
the Java Sea.
island belongs to the
42
Herman Moll, 1726

Calandradua Island
Old map names
Quirimanjaba, Quirimajaba, Cariman Iava, Carimun Iava,
Carimao Iava, Carimoon Iava, Carimon Java, Carmon Java,
Karimoen Djawa
Identified name
Karimunjawa Island
Karimunjawa are
islands located off the
north coast of Java, in
the Java Sea.
province of Central
Java.
44
Herman Moll, 1726

Erene Island
Old map names
Clemencia, Klein Enkhnysen, Enkhnysen
Identified name
Enkhnysen Reef
Enkhnysen Reef is a
group of coral reefs
located in Java Sea
off the Tanjung
Sambar peninsula
near Mangkup Island.
45
Antonio Zatta, 1776

• Carcus
• Phelicus
• Island
• Island
Old map names
• Banca, Banka, Bangka
• Bibilitam, Billetoon, Billiton, Belitoeng
Identified name
• Bangka Island
• Belitung Island
The Bangka-Belitung
Islands are a province
lying off Sumatera.
The province
comprises two main
islands, Bangka and
Belitung, and several
smaller ones. The
Bangka Strait
separates Sumatera
and Bangka, and the
Gaspar Strait
separates Bangka
and Belitung.
46
Antonio Zatta, 1776

Ammine Island
Old map names
Anamba, Anambas; Natuna, Naima, Natuma
Identified name
Anambas and Natuna
Islands
The Anambas and
Natuna Islands are
located in the South
China Sea, off the
northwest coast of
Kalimantan.
islands constitute a
regency within the
Riau Islands Province.
47
Antonio Zatta, 1776

Monache Island
Old map names
Timao, Timaon, Timor, Timmoon, Timon, Timoan
Identified name
Tioman Island
Tioman Island is an
island in Pahang,
located off the east
coast of the state.
48

Cory Island
Old map names
Pulo Ciri, Pulo Cecir, Pulo Cili, Pulo Siri, Pulo Seir
Identified name
Cu Lao Re or Ly Son
Island
Cu Lao Re or Ly Son is
an island off the coast
of Vietnam in the
South China Sea.
49
Robert Morden, 1688

Trinesia Island
Old map names
Pulo Tigao, Pulo Tigaon, Tigan
Identified name
Pulau Tiga
Pulau Tiga (“three
islands”) is a group of
three small
uninhabited islands
off the western coast
of Sabah, Malaysia
that make up Tiga
Island National Park.
50

Orneon Island
Old map names
Pulo Condor, Pulo Cador, Pulo Condore,
Poulo Condore
Identified name
Côn Đảo/Condor
Islands
“Orneo”, “ornis” and
“ornêon” in Latin mean
“bird”, “fowl” or “heron”.
Côn Đảo Islands are an
archipelago of Bà Rịa–
Vũng Tàu Province, in
the Southeast region of
Vietnam, and a district
of this province. Marco
Polo mentioned the
islands in the description
of his 1292 voyage from
China to India under the
name Sondur and
Condur.
The name was
interpreted as Condor,
the Chinese
mythological eagle.
51
Jan Huygen Van Linschoten, 1596

Susuara Island
Old map names
Clara, Claire, Clare, Maria, Miguel, Dockan,
Doctona, Dukan, Dokkan
Identified name
Pearl, Doc Can,
Laparan, Cap Islands
Pearl, Doc Can,
Laparan and Cap are
a group of islands in
the western Sulu
Islands, The
Philippines. The islands
are inhabited.
52

Nagadiba Island
Old map names
–
Identified name
“Naga Islands”,
Cebu/Camarine Sur
The name “Naga
Island” can refer to
either Naga, Cebu or
Naga, Camarines Sur.
Naga, Cebu is a
coastal city in the
province of Cebu,
while Naga,
Camarines Sur is a
landlocked
independent
component city within
the province of
Camarines Sur in the
Bicol Region. Both
cities are named
Naga.
53

Zibala Island
Old map names
Celebra, Celebus, Celebes, Cellebes
Identified name
Sulawesi Island
Sulawesi is an Island
located east of
Kalimantan Island. This
is the closest large
island that can be
seen from the eastern
coast of Kalimantan.
Several maps mention
Celebes also as a
place name at the
west coast of
Sulawesi, but the
modern name of this
place can not be
identified.
54

Zaba Island
Old map names
Paternoster, Chapelat, Sebelasanak
Identified name
Sabalana Islands
The Sabalana Islands
are an atoll in the
Flores Sea, lying just
north of the Lesser
Sunda Islands, closer
to Sumbawa than
Sulawesi.
atoll belongs to the
province of South
Sulawesi.
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Read more…
Website:
https://atlantisjavasea.
com/2015/09/26/tapro
bana-is-not-sri-lanka-
nor-sumatera-but-
kalimantan
Paperback:
amazon.com/dp/
6027244968
Google Play:
play.google.com/
store/books/details?
id=F6qODwAAQBAJ
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Taprobana is Kalimantan/Borneo
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Taprobana — A research by Dhani Irwanto

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Taprobana — A research by Dhani Irwanto