The initial letters of which four historical geographical regions from west to east spell out the word PIGS?

satguru

Portugal Italy Greece Spain, as in countries on the verge of bankruptcy within the EU http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/PIGS_(economics) Aug 09 10, 4:07 PM

gmackematix

Nope. It works well as an answer until you head east from Greece... Aug 09 10, 4:24 PM

satguru

I did wonder about that, at least saved anyone else getting caught anyhow... I could only guess at the fourth (if the others fit)- Scythia would work on both counts but only a guess going east. Aug 09 10, 5:23 PM

gmackematix

I'd better add at this point that the letters of PIGS don't represent countries. What they do represent isn't in Europe and the P is sometimes given an alternative name which would make the sequence spell GIGS. Aug 09 10, 6:06 PM

Datsmeharse

Parthia, east to Indo-Parhia, east to Gedrosia, east to Sind ... http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Parthia_001ad.jpg Pamphylia/Phyrgia to Isaurian, Gurjara, to Shekhawati. http://www.planetware.com/map/turkey-historical-regions-of-turkey-map-tr-tr11.htm http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shekhawati Aug 09 10, 9:33 PM

gmackematix

With some contrivance and picking and choosing from historical maps, I admit there are probably a number of answers to this that work. However, these are historical English names for four wide distinct regions with little if any gap between them. One of the four names is still used as the name of a modern day country and another of the four is the previous name of a country. Aug 10 10, 8:38 PM

queproblema

I'm in a hurry and not getting them all, but the middle two could be Iberia and Gaul. Aug 10 10, 9:03 PM

great2beme

Maybe P and I can stand for Persia and Iran Aug 10 10, 10:49 PM

Baloo55th

Persia (formerly an empire occupying a large expanse - and now known as Iran), India (the region occupied by the British - including Pakistan, Rangladesh and Burma), then what? Aug 11 10, 9:24 AM

gmackematix

I said not Europe earlier. Nor are they in Asia... Aug 11 10, 11:27 AM

queproblema

Whoops--missed that.... Aug 11 10, 5:27 PM

gmackematix

The answers are in Africa and all share one word in common. I'm littorally giving it away now! Aug 12 10, 6:32 PM

queproblema

Ah! I don't know the first one. :( So here's some help for someone.... Gold Coast, Ivory Coast, Slave Coast Running late for supper..... Aug 12 10, 7:44 PM

great2beme

ahhh! I found the last one. Pepper Coast/Grain Coast. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Slave_coast So in summary, here they are: Pepper/Grain Coast, Ivory Coast, Gold Coast and Slave Coast. Aug 12 10, 8:04 PM

gmackematix

At last, Qp and Great Beme have uncovered my Bay of PIGS, or perhaps I should say, Gulf of Guinea PIGS. These days, perhaps the Pepper Coast should be the Blood Diamond Coast and, given its the world's main exporter, the Ivory Coast should be the stuttery Cocoa Coast... http://www.nigerianmuse.com/20090829095954zg/nigeria-watch/the-benin-empire-and-slave-trade-a-history-lesson-in-5-minutes-compiled-by-bolaji-aluko/ Aug 13 10, 12:26 AM