17th Century Constantinopel
By: Anonymous
Date: 17th century (circa) Nuremberg
Dimensions: 10.25 x 14.75 inches (26 x 37.5 cm)
This fascinating map of Constantinople, modern day Istanbul, is thought to be based on an original version published by Matthaus Merian in 1638. A number of versions of the map are known, with the work of each cartographer / publisher differing a bit from the others. The edition we offer is by a thus-far unidentified author. The primary difference in this map from other versions is the number of dogs depicted with the turbaned individual in the lower right corner. This edition pictures one person with four dogs. Others picture two people with four dogs, along with differences in text, title cartouche and other decorative features.
The scene of the city is a perspective from the Asian side of the Bosphorus at the site of ancient Chalcedon, which itself was built on a site thought to have been a colony founded by seafaring Phoenicians. This area is known now as Kadıköy. It looks straight across the Bosphorus to the area called the horn, as geographically it resembles the outline of a rhinoceros nose and horn.
The European side is depicted on the horizon, with all architectural details much smaller than those on the Asian side. Despite this perspective it is possible to identify the best-known monuments, such as Hagia Sophia and several large mosques built after the 1453 fall of the city. Topkapı Palace is easily distingishable, built with marble from the ancient Greek city in the third quarter of the 15th century as the main residence of the Ottoman sultans.
In addition, many important administrative buildings, churches, and palaces extant at that time have been included in some detail. The great walls of the city are shown encircling it, including many towers which no longer exist. A portion of what is presumably the great aqueduct of Valens is denoted and identified in the legend. Large birds fly over the city and many vessels of various kinds are seen plying the waters of the Bosphorus. Text below the map provides a key to thirty of the best-known of the architectural edifices, the vast majority of which are located on the European side.
Numerous human figures are shown on the streets of the Anatolian side, some on horseback, others walking, with dogs accompanying several. The area is shown as hilly with large trees in the foreground. Additionally, on the Asian side the author has depicted many ancient structures of which few remnants remain in view today, but which are often discovered when modern construction digs deep enough.
Four hundred years have passed since information for this image was collected, and the space is now occupied by Kadıköy, a modern district/suburb of Istanbul covering a large territory whose area measures 25 square kilometers, and whose population is approximately half a million. In antiquity when the area was initially being colonized, those on the European side called this area ‘The Land of the Blind’, for the European side was far more favorable to the establishment of a city, with its natural water barriers and other geographical features. Indeed, Chalcedon, the ancient name of the area, is translated as ‘land of the blind’.
The title cartouche, another element which differs from map to map, is a banner enclosing the city’s name. It is flanked by decorative heraldic devices on both sides.
Condition: This map on fine watermarked hand laid paper is in A condition. Some minimal thinning of paper in two places. Thinning visible only when held up to light. A spot of ink or some other substance on the verso seems to have contributed to this in one small area.
Inventory #12866
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