Galichian R., Historic Maps of Armenia the Cartographic Heritage
.pdfFig. 44
Thismapof‘AsiaMinor’isfromPtolemy’sGeography,preparedbyLaurentiusPhrisias(orLorenzo Fries), and printed by J. Grüninger of Strasbourg (Argentorati) in 1522.
In this map most of the inland towns mentioned in the text of the Geography are shown in detail. See Figs 38 and 39 for list of names. For a comparison of various editions of Ptolemaic atlases edited by different cartographers, see also Figs 33 and 35.
Size52x39cm
British Library – London, Maps C.1.d.11
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Fig. 45
This map, entitled ‘Armenia, Iberia, Colchis et Albania’, is fromGeographia Universalis vetusetnova complectens…, dated 1540, by Sebastian Münster (1489–1552). It is a woodcut map, printed by Henricum Petrum in Basle.
ThemapisbasedonPtolemy’smap‘TabulaIIIAsiae’.ItshowsArmeniaMaior(GreaterArmenia) together with Iberia and Colchis (Georgia) and Albania (present-day Republic of Azerbaijan). The names of various cities are shown, together with Noah’s Ark, which is depicted within the Caspian Sea in the shape of a house. To the west of the map lies Armenia Minor (Lesser Armenia).
Size app. 34x27cm |
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Private collection – London, Ref. RG02 |
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Also British Library – London, Maps C.1.c.3 |
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Fig. 46
Another map by Sebastian Münster (1489–1552), entitled ‘Tartaria & Asiatic Sarmatia’ (Russia), fromhisCosmographia,dated1544–45,printedinBasle.Thisisthemostcomprehensivegeography bookoftheperiodandwentthroughmorethan36editionsbetween1544and1628.Itcontainsover 1200 pages and hundreds of etchings of figures and maps. The text describes all the countries and their peoples, habits and lifestyles, also giving details of the geographical features and plant and animal life. There are etchings of many fantastic creatures said to dwell in remote places.
Themapshownhereis‘TabulaIIAsiae’ofPtolemy’sGeography.Itisawoodcutmapprintedinold German. The map shows the European and Asiatic parts of Russia, down to the Caucasus Mountains. Armenia is shown south of these mountain ranges. The entire lower section of the map is extremely compressed and distorted.
Size app. 18x33cm
Private collection – London, Ref. RG01
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Fig. 47/47a
Pierre Desceliers (1487–1553), one of the leading French cartographers and hydrographers, produced several portolan charts of the world, two of which are reproduced here, including their details. Only a few of his charts have survived.
His ‘Mappamonde’ is a map of the world extending from the Americas to Japan and the Pacific Ocean,drawnonvellum,beautifullyprepared,illustrated,decoratedandcoloured.Itwasproduced in 1546, possibly near Calais, France, where Desceliers was parish priest. The interesting feature of the map is that the texts and pictures to the north of the equator are inverted. It can be deduced that due to its large size itwasunsuitablefor hangingand was intended forspreading overa table, whereitcouldeasilybereadfrombothsides.Themapshowstheworldonaflatplane,withoutany projection, which makes it similar to Mercator’s variable scale projection in shape only, lacking the latter’s accuracy.
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Themapdepicts allpartsoftheworldwiththeemphasisonportsandnavigationalrequirements. Inlandafewcitiesandcountriesarealsoshown,togetherwithdrawingsofvariousviews.Multicolour compass and wind direction lines criss-cross the map.
The detail Fig. 47a shows the area of the Middle East that contains Armenia and the Armenian Plateau, including the mountain ranges and the rivers fed from them.
Reproduced by courtesy of the Director and Librarian of John Rylands University Library, Manchester, UK.
Size260x130cm
John Rylands Library – Manchester, French MS1
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47a
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Fig. 48/48a
Pierre Desceliers’ (1487–1553) other portolan chart of the world is also reproduced here.
Much of what has been said about the shape and size of Desceliers’ map of Fig. 47 is also applicable to this map.
His ‘Planisphere’ is a map of the world extending from the Americas to Japan and the Pacific Ocean. It is a very large map on vellum, beautifully produced, illustrated and decorated, and vividly coloured. This chart has many more detailed decorations and descriptive texts than his previous map of Fig. 47. It was produced in 1550 in Montmorency, France.
This planisphere-type chart is also intended for being spread over a table and has bi-directional texts and illustrations.
48a
The map depicts all parts of the world with special emphasis on ports and navigational requirements. Inland cities and countries are also shown, together with drawings of city views, people and animals, as well as historical and mythical descriptive texts. Multicolour compass and wind direction lines, loxodromes, criss-cross the map. As a result of the interest of merchants in Far Eastern islands, many details of these islands and seas are depicted in the chart, most of them imaginary.
Fig. 48a is a small detail of this map, showing the area of the Middle East that includes Armenia. Size 215x165cm
British Library – London, Add. MS 24065
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