Erythraei Sive Rubri Maris Periplus, olim ab Arriano decriptus, nunc vero ab Abrah. Ortelio ex eodem delineatus.

Article description

Original copper engraving, published 1624 in the famous historical Atlas "Parergon" (Latin text-edition) by Abraham Ortelius. Finely hand-colored in wash and outline. We find the title cartouche in the upper centre with insets on the right and left. Another inset showing the South of Italy and Greece is found at the lower centre (showing the errors of Ulysses). A very good example in excellent condition. The cartographic sources of this map are based on Homer's Odyssee, Isaac Tzetzes, Ovidius and Ausonius. The map represents the Northwest coast of Africa. King Hanno from Carthago is supposed to be the first to sail around the continent of Africa to reach the Arabian sea, and incidentally also the first to tame a lion ... . Inset Hyperborei has been added, as Ortelius puts it "for better beautifying or proportioning of this map", and to remind the reader that in spite of all their exertionsd, a passage to the Far East via the North Pole has not yet been found by the English or the Dutch (Broe. 225).

Broe. 225