# The Seven Seas **URL:** \ **Category:** Cecil's Columns/Staff Reports\ **Created:** [August 24, 2001, 3:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-seven-seas/77919 "2001-08-24T15:16:59Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 4\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![KillerChihuahua](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/ea666f/32.png) [@KillerChihuahua](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KillerChihuahua)\ **Post date:** [August 24, 2001, 3:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-seven-seas/77919/1 "2001-08-24T15:16:59Z")
The Seven seas refers to the Punjab? Then how is it Punjab means 5 rivers, or was I misinformed? ---
**Author:** ![C\_K\_Dexter\_Haven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/b2d939/32.png) [@C\_K\_Dexter\_Haven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/C_K_Dexter_Haven)\ **Post date:** [August 24, 2001, 5:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-seven-seas/77919/2 "2001-08-24T17:15:50Z")
Killer, it’s helpful if you post a link to the Staff Report that you are commenting on, helps others figure out what the heck you’re talking about. Makes for more coherent responses. [What are the seven seas?](http://www.straightdope.com/mailbag/m7sea.html) ---
**Author:** ![Duck\_Duck\_Goose](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/50afbb/32.png) [@Duck\_Duck\_Goose](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Duck_Duck_Goose)\ **Post date:** [August 25, 2001, 5:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-seven-seas/77919/3 "2001-08-25T05:02:53Z")
Cecil said: > [@](#): > > the Hindus used the term for the bodies of water in the Punjab. [http://www.stud.ifi.uio.no/~singh/punjab-state.html](http://www.stud.ifi.uio.no/~singh/punjab-state.html) > [@](#): > > This area was known as **‘Sapta-Sindhu’** or **Seven Seas** in those days. The Saraswati dried up in course of time… The Punjabis were in difficulties. They did not like the Indus. Besides only five rivers remained - the Jhelum, Chenab, Ravi, Bipasha and Shatadru. Punjab is the land of these five rivers. The name is derived from two Persian words: ‘Panj’ meaning five with ‘Aab’ meaning water. [http://www.geocities.com/paris/musee/3531/indhist.html](http://www.geocities.com/paris/musee/3531/indhist.html) > [@](#): > > . “Punjab” means five waters, and the state was alluviated by five rivers indeed. Indus, Sutlej, Jhelum, Ravi, and Beas. Some have it that there were not five but seven rivers and the region was called **sapt saindhav** which means **seven seas**. [http://www.punjabilok.com/heritage/punjabi\_language.htm](http://www.punjabilok.com/heritage/punjabi_language.htm) > [@](#): > > The word Punjab is made up of two words Panj and Aab. Panj means five and Aab means water, the land of five rivers. This name was probably given to this land of five rivers possibly in an era when this region came into close contact with persia. Prior to that period this region was known by different names at different times. Probably when at the height of its glory it was known as **Sapta Sindhu** , the land of **seven rivers**. [http://www2.india4u.com/history/ancient.asp](http://www2.india4u.com/history/ancient.asp) > [@](#): > > The Aryans migrated from the North-west to the area called **Sapta-Sindhava** (the land of the **seven rivers** ) - Eastern Afghanistan, Punjab and the fringes of western Uttar Pradesh. Well, there, that’s enough of that. Evidently the word “sindhava” or “sindhu” or “saindhav” can be translated as either “rivers” or “seas”, depending on the translator, I suppose. ---
**Author:** ![Duck\_Duck\_Goose](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/50afbb/32.png) [@Duck\_Duck\_Goose](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Duck_Duck_Goose)\ **Post date:** [August 25, 2001, 5:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-seven-seas/77919/4 "2001-08-25T05:04:39Z")
As for what happened to the other two rivers, or whether there even were seven rivers to begin with, I’ll leave that for somebody else to deal with, 'cause I’m going to bed. [http://www.google.com](http://www.google.com)