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Antique Map: Libanus et ejus Vicinia by: Thomas Fuller, 1650

1650 Libanus et ejus Vicinia - Lebanon and its Neighborhood

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By: Thomas Fuller

Date: 1650 (Published) London

Dimensions: 11.2 x 13.5 inches (28.5 x 34 cm)

This striking map of the Holy Land is one of a series from the monumental opus of Thomas Fuller, an atlas entitled Pisgah-Sight of Palestine and the confines thereof, with the History of the Old and New Testament acted thereon. The atlas was published in English and is often referred to as the first true Biblical atlas. Pisgah refers to Mount Pisgah, the mountain in the Bible from which Moses saw the Promised Land for the first time.

This fascinating, engraved double-page map features the Lebanese coast from Tyre and Sidon to Latakia with part of Cyprus shown. Three vessels ply the waters of the Mediterranean not far from the shore. Inland much activity is taking place. As with most maps from Turner’s atlas, vignettes depict both large scale battles as well as skirmishes involving a few horses and heavily armed men along some ancient byways. All are based on biblical and/or historical accounts.

At the city of Helam, armed horsemen with weapons drawn depict the victory of King David over the Syrian army.  To the west in Riblah, the blinding of King Zedekiah by Nebuchadnezzar is clearly shown. On a road near Damascus is written the quote of Jesus Christ who, according to scripture queried of Saul, “Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me?’

The renowned, beloved, and highly valuable cedar forests of Lebanon in the mountainous areas are beautifully rendered. The forested areas feature many woodcutters busily felling trees, with axes and enormous saws. Others are to be seen carrying wood to various building projects.  The cedar from trees in Lebanon was used for building ships, palaces and roofing for palaces dating far back into antiquity contributing to the prowess and success of the Levant’s fearless seagoing Phoenicians in antiquity.

Some of the ancient cities depicted include Sidon, Tyre, Byblos, Tripoli, Laodicea, Damascus, and Beirut (Barutus on map). Damascus is much the largest of the cities, larger and displaying enormous defensive walls signifying its strength and importance in the region. Near to the walls of Damascus is a large tower on a hilltop labeled Turris Libani, Latin for Tower of Lebanon.

The map is embellished with an ornamental compass rose and title cartouche. The lower right features the coat of arms of Fuller’s donor Simeoni Bonnell, who financed the map, along with a dedication in Latin to him.

Thomas Fuller (1608-1661) was an English historian, clergyman, and writer who produced many works in addition to his Biblical atlas entitled Pisgah-Sight of Palestine and the confines thereof, with the History of the Old and New Testament acted thereon, including The Church -History of Britain (1655) and Worthies of England (1662). His works are known for their use of original sources and antiquarian information. The Church-History of Britain included the first detailed account of the decades before the civil wars. Worthies of England was the first biographical dictionary in English and included a catalog of the notable features of every county in England. Fuller was a prolific author and one of the first English writers to earn a living from his writing. He was a chaplain to the Royalist army during the fighting, and later became a friend of Izaak Walton, another leading biographer.

Condition: The image of the map is in A condition. Paper is thinning around the edges of entire map, with toning and some faint staining of the edges.

Inventory #12930

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