West Asia & the Holy Land · 16th century
€ 473
One of a kind: this is the sheet in the photographs. Ships from Langweer, the Netherlands.
Nice impression on a bright sheet with very faint offsetting.
Ptolemaic map of the Arabian Peninsula based on the 1548 map of Giacomo Gastaldi. It covers nearly all of the peninsula, but does not include the head of the Red Sea. The coastlines are more accurate than earlier Ptolemaic maps although the southern part of the peninsula is still too wide. A large spurious lake (Stag lago) is shown in the southern region. Major towns are named, although not accurately located, and the rivers are entirely imaginary. Italian text on verso.
Title: “Arabia Felice Nuova Tavola”
The subject of this antique map is Arabia, crafted by Ptolemy and further published by Ruscelli in the year 1574. Rendered in black and white, the map measures approximately 9.8 x 7.1 inches (24.9 x 18 cm).
This cartographic piece is sourced from 'La Geografia di Claudio Tolomeo Alessandrino,' signifying its inclusion in a geographical work attributed to the Alexandrian scholar, Claudius Ptolemy. Within this publication, Ptolemy's ancient geographic knowledge and cartographic insights were often reinterpreted and republished by later mapmakers like Ruscelli.
The map delineates the region of Arabia, offering insights into the geographic understanding prevalent during Ptolemy's era. It reflects the geographical boundaries, locations, and features of Arabia known at that time, providing a historical perspective on cartography and the depiction of this significant region in the ancient world.
