1574 Tabula Europae X
By: Girolamo Ruscelli
Date: 1574 (published) Venice
Dimensions: 7.25 x 10.25 inches (18.42 x 26.04 cm) plate size
This Ruscelli map in trapezoid form is from his work La Geografia di Claudio Tolomeo Alessandrino. Based on the work of Ptolemy, it depicts Greece and the Peloponnese, Crete, the Cyclades Islands, along with numerous other islands on all sides, including in the Aegean, the Ionian and Adriatic Seas.
The map extends from Dalmatia in the west, to Thrace and the western edge of Asia Minor in the east, with many cities and ports included. The map is annotated with Latin place names, and the verso features an Italian description of the principal cities of Greece by region. The Hellespont is denoted and a small area of the Black Sea is visible. Mountain ranges and river systems are depicted, and classical names for many regions are identifiable.
Girolamo Ruscelli (1500-1566) was an Italian polymath, humanist, editor, alchemist and cartographer active in Venice during the early 16th century. Ruscelli is best known for his important revision of Ptolemy's Geographia, published posthumously in 1574.
Claudius Ptolemy (85-165 CE), a Roman citizen of Greek descent from Alexandria, was the most influential of Greek astronomers and geographers of his time. He propounded the geocentric theory of the solar system which was to prevail for the next 1400 years.
Condition: This map is in A condition. Heavily inked with some minimal residue, slight discoloration at the centerfold, otherwise sharp impression. Italian text on the verso.
Inventory #11795
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