Galichian R., Historic Maps of Armenia the Cartographic Heritage

Fig. 85

A page from Pieter van der Aa’s (1659–1733)Atlas Noveau et Curieux, which was printed in Leiden c. 1710.

ThispageshowsTartari (SouthRussia)andCircassia,andincludesAnatolia,ArmeniaandGeorgia. The Armenian cities mentioned include Kars, Arserum, Erivan, Zulfa (Djulfa), Van and Bitlis. Karabag(h) is also shown slightly misplaced and the River Arax is shown asCarasse.

For details concerning Karabagh see description of Fig.117. Size24x16cm

Private collection – London, Ref. RG59

Also British Library – London, Maps C.49.e.21

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86a

Fig. 86/86a

JohnDavidKoehler’s(1684–1755)Schul und Reise Atlas (SchoolandTravelAtlas)waspreparedand printed in Nürnberg by the engraver C. Weigel (1654–1725) in 1718. The atlas is in two parts. Part 1 contains 120 maps of the modern world and Part 2 has 44 maps of the ancient world, bearing the titleDescriptioOrbisAntiqvi.

This is Map 44 of Part 2 and is entitled ‘The Historical Scene of the Orient during the Fifth Century A.D.’. It shows the ancient kingdoms and countries.

Fig. 86a shows the region of Armenia in detail.

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Fig. 87

As with the previous map, this map is also from John David Koehler’s (1684–1755) Schul und Reise Atlas (School and Travel Atlas), prepared and printed in Nürnberg by the engraver C. Weigel (1654–1725) in 1718.

ThemapofArmeniashownhereisMap27ofPart2,theancientworld.Itshowsvariousprovinces of Armenia and the important towns, bearing their Greek names. Lake Van is named Arsissa and Lake Sevan Lychnites (Lychnitis). The map is full of errors regarding geographical locations, whichwerecommoninthecontemporarymaps.TheterritoryofArmeniaextendsfromtheCaspian Sea to the Mediterranean, divided into four parts, Northern, Southern, Western Armenia and Armenia Minor.

Sizes 43x35cm

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Fig. 88

This is an example of a much later map still loosely based on Ptolemy’s Geography, engraved by Spoffort in London during 1722.

The map shows Asia Minor, Syria, Babylon, Assyria, Cyprus and Mesopotamia, and includes Armenia Maior as well as Armenia Minor. The names of the cities are taken from Ptolemy, and of the three existing lakes in the area only Lake Van is shown.

Size48x36cm

Private collection – London, Ref. RG09

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90a

Fig. 90/90a

Guillaume Delisle or De l’Isle’s (1675–1726) ‘Map of the Area of the Caspian Sea’ was published posthumously by his sons in 1730, in Amsterdam. This map is from his Atlas Nouveau, which includes 31 pagesoftextand56accompanyingmaps.Delisle’smapsaregenerally full of detail and data. These maps have been included in many atlases published by other cartographers.

This map of the region of the Caspian and the Black Seas includes Armenia,plusMingreliaandCartveli (Kartveli–Georgia)toitsnorth and Chirvan (Shirvan),Derbent andMoghan toitseast(since1918this areahasbeenrenamedRepublicofAzerbaijan).ThePersianprovince of Aderbijan, which is the historic Azerbaijan, is situated south of the RiverArax.

Curiously the lakes of Van and Urmia, bearing the local name of Chahi Daryasi (King’sSea)areshownjoined.Bothlakeshavesaltwater and sustain very little or no marine life at all, which might be the reason for the cartographer to suspect that they were joined at some point. This map also shows interconnecting roads in the region.

Fig 90a shows central Armenia in detail. For comparison purposes see Fig. 95. Size 63x54cm

Private collection – London, Ref. RG62

Also British Library – London, Maps 1.TAB.8, f 35

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