The Syrtis, in the sea off the N. African coast between Carthage and Cyrene. (See CLAUDA; EUROCLYDON; MELITA; PAUL.) Acts 27:17, for "strake sail" (which would have hurried them into the danger), translated "they lowered the gear" (chalasantes to skeuos ), i.e., afraid of falling into the Syrtis with the storm from the N.E., they took down the higher sail and kept only the storm sail set, turning the ship's head off shore and standing on as best they could. There were two Syrtes; the eastern one the gulf of Sidra, the western one, smaller, the gulf of Cabes.