1572 Colonia Agrippina
DESCRIPTION
An exceptional 16th-century bird's-eye view and map of Cologne, one of the great commercial and religious centers of the Holy Roman Empire, published in Braun and Hogenberg's celebrated Civitates Orbis Terrarum.
The engraving presents Cologne oriented with east at the top and in remarkable detail, depicting its densely built streets, churches, monasteries, public squares, gardens, and extensive medieval fortifications. The city stretches along the western bank of the Rhine, enclosed by a broad semicircle of defensive walls, towers, and gates. Numerous vessels navigate the river, illustrating Cologne's importance as a center of trade and transportation. Across the Rhine lies the smaller fortified settlement of Deutz, connected to Cologne by river traffic.
The map is richly embellished with the imperial double-headed eagle, Cologne's civic coat of arms, and figures in contemporary German dress at the lower left. At the lower right, a reclining personification of the Rhine rests beside an overturned vessel pouring water into the river. The carefully rendered buildings and street network provide a valuable record of Cologne's urban development during the late 16th century, when the city remained an important center of commerce, learning, and Catholic religious life.
Historical Cartouches and Latin Text
Three decorative cartouches recount Cologne's Roman origins, civic history, and religious importance. The upper cartouche describes the Roman fortress at Deutz, established by Constantine the Great across the Rhine. The lower-left cartouche discusses the city's Roman bridge and explains its coat of arms, including the three crowns representing the Three Magi and eleven heraldic marks associated with Saint Ursula's legendary 11,000 virgins. The lower-right cartouche traces Cologne's development from a settlement of the Germanic Ubii into the Roman colony named for Agrippina, wife of Emperor Claudius.
An extensive Latin account on the verso provides additional history, including Cologne's occupation by the Franks, its emergence as a Free Imperial City, and the expansion of its medieval fortifications. It also describes the city's unfinished Gothic cathedral, numerous churches and monasteries, thriving commerce, and university founded in 1388.
CONDITION
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