Table of Contents: Ancient Mediterranean Map
- Ancient Mediterranean Map
- Nouvelle carte de la mer Méditerranée – François Ollive (1664)
- Geographische beschrijvinge van de wandeling der apostelen Pauli – Claes Janszoon Visscher (c. early 17th Century)
- Mediterranean Sea and Surrounding Regions – Likely Abraham Ortelius (c. late 16th Century)
- Mediterranean Area – Pieter van der Aa, Engraved by Michiel Haberer (c. late 17th/early 18th Century)
- Ptolemy’s World Map – 2nd Century AD (Greco-Roman)
This selection of Ancient Mediterranean maps illuminates the 17th-century Mediterranean, a pivotal era marked by increasing Northern European influence in trade and ongoing naval competition between powers like the Ottomans and various European states. Claes Janszoon Visscher’s early 17th-century map, depicting St. Paul’s journeys, reflects the enduring religious significance of the region amidst burgeoning global trade networks. Simultaneously, François Ollive’s ornate 1664 chart highlights the maritime importance of the Mediterranean, crucial for trade routes vulnerable to both state-sponsored navies and the rampant piracy of the era. With he later 17th-century map by Pieter van der Aa, engraved by Michiel Haberer, further underscores the region’s central role in European commerce and geopolitical strategies.
The potential inclusion of 16th or 17th-century maps in this grouping, possibly by Ortelius, would situate these depictions within a period where cartography flourished, fueled by Renaissance artistry and a growing demand for accurate geographical knowledge spurred by exploration and trade. These maps, with their detailed coastlines and Latinate nomenclature, would represent a blend of classical knowledge and contemporary understanding of a Mediterranean Sea increasingly contested by emerging European powers vying for maritime dominance and trade supremacy against the backdrop of established Ottoman influence.
Maps of the World
Ancient Mediterranean Map
Nouvelle carte de la mer Méditerranée – François Ollive (1664)
| * | Creator: François Ollive |
| * | Publication Year: 1664 |
| * | Region Depicted: Mediterranean Sea and surrounding regions |
| * | Key Features: Detailed illustrations of coastal cities, ships, geographical features |
| * | Decorative Elements: Ornate cartouches, compass roses, depictions of mythical figures and animals (typical of the 17th century) |
A 1664 map of the Mediterranean Sea and surrounding regions by François Ollive
The “Nouvelle carte de la mer Méditerranée” is a historical cartographic depiction of the Mediterranean Sea and its adjacent lands, created by the cartographer François Ollive in the year 1664. This 17th-century map showcases the geographical understanding and artistic conventions of the period through its detailed illustrations of coastal cities, various types of ships sailing the sea, and prominent geographical features.
Although this map is not an ancient mediterranean map, this 17th century map is embellished with decorative elements characteristic of the era. Elements including ornate title cartouches, elaborately designed compass roses indicating directions, and the inclusion of depictions of mythical figures and animals, adding a layer of artistic flair and reflecting the cultural context of mapmaking in the 17th century. François Ollive’s work provides a valuable insight into how the Mediterranean region was perceived and represented cartographically during this time.
Geographische beschrijvinge van de wandeling der apostelen Pauli – Claes Janszoon Visscher (c. early 17th Century)
| * | Creator: Claes Janszoon Visscher (Dutch cartographer and engraver) |
| * | Likely Publication Era: Early 17th Century |
| * | Region Depicted: Mediterranean region (focus on St. Paul’s travels) |
| * | Language: Dutch and Latin (place names) |
| * | Key Feature: Depiction of the travels of the Apostle Paul |
| * | Decorative Elements: Scenes depicting events from the Bible surrounding the map. |
A map by Claes Janszoon Visscher, likely from the early 17th century, depicting the Mediterranean region
Likely produced in the early 17th century, based on Visscher’s active period, the map focuses on illustrating the Mediterranean region within the context of the Apostle Paul’s missionary journeys as described in the Bible.
A notable characteristic of this map is the use of both Dutch and Latin for place names, reflecting the cartographic conventions of the time and likely catering to a scholarly and possibly wider European audience. Enhancing the ancient Mediterranean map’s narrative and visual appeal are the scenes depicting various events from the Bible that surround the central geographical representation. These illustrations serve to contextualize St. Paul’s travels within the broader biblical narrative, making the map not just a geographical tool but also a visual storytelling device. Claes Janszoon Visscher’s work provides a fascinating intersection of geography, religious history, and artistic representation in the early 17th century.
Mediterranean Sea and Surrounding Regions – Likely Abraham Ortelius (c. late 16th Century)
| * | Likely Creator: Abraham Ortelius (Flemish cartographer and geographer) |
| * | Likely Publication Era: Late 16th Century (consistent with Ortelius’s active period and style) |
| * | Region Depicted: Mediterranean Sea and surrounding regions (Europe, North Africa, Middle East) |
| * | Stylistic Notes: Detailed coastlines, Latin place names, decorative cartouches (characteristic of Ortelius) |
| * | Textual Clues: Labels like “CANTABRICVS OCEANVS” and “AFRICAE” align with historical map conventions of the era. |
| * | Historical Significance: Oldest preserved cartographic depiction of the Holy Land |
| * | Historical Significance: Ortelius created the first modern atlas, “Theatrum Orbis Terrarum” (1570). |
A 16th-century historical map depicting the Mediterranean Sea, Europe, North Africa, and the Middle East
This historical map, depicting the Mediterranean Sea and the surrounding regions encompassing Europe, North Africa, and the Middle East, strongly resembles the cartographic style of the late 16th century and is highly likely to be the work of the celebrated Flemish cartographer and geographer Abraham Ortelius. Ortelius is widely recognized as the creator of the first modern atlas, the “Theatrum Orbis Terrarum.” Ortelius published in 1570, his maps are characterized by their detailed coastlines, the use of Latin for place names, and often ornate decorative cartouches.
These stylistic elements appear to be consistent with the visual characteristics of the map in question. Furthermore, the labeling of geographical features and continents using Latin terms such as “CANTABRICVS OCEANVS” (Cantabrian Sea/Bay of Biscay) and “AFRICAE” (Africa) aligns with the cartographic conventions prevalent during Ortelius’s time. Given these stylistic and textual clues, this map offers a valuable representation of the Mediterranean world as it was understood and depicted by one of the most influential cartographers of the 16th century. Sources and related content
Mediterranean Area – Pieter van der Aa, Engraved by Michiel Haberer (c. late 17th/early 18th Century)
| * | Creator (Publisher): Pieter van der Aa (Leiden, Netherlands) |
| * | Engraver: Michiel Haberer |
| * | Likely Publication Era: Late 17th or early 18th Century |
| * | Region Depicted: Mediterranean area (Italy, Greece, Turkey, North Africa) |
| * | Publisher Information: “Sayerwerd te Leyden door Pieter vander Aa met Privilegie” (Published in Leiden by Pieter van der Aa with Privilege) |
A map of the Mediterranean region (Italy, Greece, Turkey, North Africa)
This map of the Mediterranean area, published in Leiden by the Dutch cartographer and publisher Pieter van der Aa, who was active during the late 17th and early 18th centuries. The inscription “Sayerwerd te Leyden door Pieter vander Aa met Privilegie” on the bottom left of the map explicitly identifies van der Aa as the publisher and indicates that the publication was authorized by privilege, a common practice at the time. Furthermore, the name “Michiel Haberer” inscribed on the bottom right signifies that he was the engraver responsible for the intricate lines and details of the map.
The fact that the map is noted to be sold at auction suggests its commercial distribution in the period of its publication. As a product of the Dutch Golden Age of cartography, this map likely reflects the relatively advanced geographical knowledge and engraving skills of the era, providing a visual representation of the historically significant Mediterranean region and the networks connecting Europe and North Africa.
Ptolemy’s World Map – 2nd Century AD (Greco-Roman)
| * | Creator: Claudius Ptolemy (Greek mathematician, astronomer, geographer) |
| * | Publication Year: c. 150 AD (Geography) – this refers to the description; the map itself is a later reconstruction based on his text. |
| * | Region Depicted: The world as known to Greco-Roman societies (Europe, parts of Asia and Africa). |
| * | Key Features: Detailed city layout, landmarks, legend identifying sites |
| * | Historical Context: 2nd Century AD, Greco-Roman era, significant influence on subsequent cartography. |
| * | Key Contributions: Recording of longitudes and latitudes for ~8,000 locations, introduction of map projections (including conic). |
| * | Influence: Dominated cartography for over a thousand years. |
| * | Precursor: Builds upon earlier maps (e.g., Anaximander of Miletus). |
A reconstruction of the world map as described by Claudius Ptolemy in his 2nd-century AD book Geography
This ancient Mediterranean map represents a reconstruction of the world as it was understood by Greco-Roman societies in the 2nd century AD. he map is based on the detailed geographical descriptions provided by the renowned Greek scholar Claudius Ptolemy in his seminal work Geography, written around 150 AD. Ptolemy’s groundbreaking contribution to cartography lay in his systematic recording of geographical data, including longitudes and latitudes in degrees for an estimated 8,000 locations across the known world.
This innovation allowed for the reproduction of his map and provided a framework for more precise geographical representation. Furthermore, Ptolemy introduced the concept of map projections, including a conic projection, to address the challenge of representing the spherical Earth on a flat surface. While earlier attempts at world mapping existed, such as that of Anaximander of Miletus around 600 BCE, Ptolemy’s work was revolutionary for its level of detail, mathematical rigor, and its profound and lasting influence on the development of cartography for over a millennium. This reconstructed map offers a valuable insight into the geographical horizons and cartographic understanding of the Greco-Roman world at its zenith.