Syr'tis, The. Acts 27:17. The Syrtis in the Revised Version, in place of "quicksands," in the Authorized Version. It was the well-known, Syrtis Major, the terror of all Mediterranean sailors. "It is a dangerous shallow on the coast of Africa, between Tripoli and Barca, southwest of the island of Crete." The other Syrtis, Syrtis Minor, was too far west to be feared by Paul's fellow voyagers. - Editor.