Illustrative Maps

Early modern maps are renowned for their elaborate border illustrations.

Beyond their visual appeal, illustrated maps provide insight into the societies that created and used them. Stories from ancient Greek and Roman mythology frequently appear on maps produced in European countries because Europeans both admired these ancient civilizations and viewed themselves as their cultural heirs. Other maps illustrate Biblical or Christian themes, reflecting Europe’s predominantly Christian background. Personifications of the continents themselves also often appear on maps. These illustrations suggest how early modern Europeans imagined and organized the world around them.

Nova Orbis Tabvla, In Lvcem Edita [New Chart of the Earth, Published into the Light]

Frederik de Wit, creatorca. 1670MSM 1---0004
The mythological illustrations in this map represent the four seasons of the year, with each scene highlighting a different agricultural activity. The top left corner depicts spring, with a garland-festooned ox plowing the fields for new crops. Summer, in the top right corner, features wheat harvests. The making of wine symbolizes autumn in the lower left corner, while the preparation of root vegetables in the lower right corner represents winter.

Nova Totius Terrarum Orbis Tabula [A New Map of the Whole World]

Frederik de Wit , cartographer
1660
MSM 1---0001
Mythology has long been used to explain weather patterns, seasons, and other natural phenomena in symbolic terms. This map includes different stories and deities from Greek mythology, with each scene symbolizing a natural element. Together, the deities shown in these scenes personify the elements - fire, wind, earth, and water.

The top left corner shows Hades, the god of the underworld. He represents fire, and is shown here abducting Persephone.

The lower left corner shows the goddess of the Earth, Demeter, standing with a bountiful harvest.

In the top right corner, Zeus and Hera represent the air and sky

The lower right corner scene features Poseidon, god of the sea.

A New Map of the Terraqueous Globe According to the Latest Discoveries ...

Edward Wells, creator1660MSM 1---0011
The illustrations at the lower right and left corners show the art of cartography as practiced by early modern Europeans. The people standing in the center of the map likely derive from allegorical illustrations such as the Four Continents.

Lower Left Corner

Lower Right Corner

Nova Totius Terrarum Orbis Geographica Ac Hydrographica Tabula [New Geographic and Hydrographic Map of the Whole Earth]

Jacobus Hondius, creator1639MSM 1---0008
The people seated at the corners of this map represent the Four Continents, an allegorical subject that experienced its peak popularity during the 16th and 17th centuries. Today we recognize seven different continents; yet, early modern Europeans acknowledged four: Europe, Asia, Africa, and the Americas. In this map, Europe occupies the top left corner, Asia the top right, the Americas at bottom right, and Africa, the bottom left. As allegorical illustrations, the Four Continents are not accurate depictions of different cultures, but instead reflect how Europeans imagined different world populations.

Nova Totius Terrarum Orbis Geographica Ac Hydrographica Tabula [New Geographic and Hydrographic Map of the Whole Earth]

Claes Jansz Visscher , creator1652MSM 1---0400
The elaborate border illustration on this map connect several different interests. The Four Continents occupy each of the corners, while the left and right sides feature representations of people from different countries and geographic regions. The top and the bottom edges of the border depict 12 ancient Roman Emperors. These illustrations reflect Europe’s ongoing fascination with classical history and culture. They also suggest continuity between the expansion of the ancient Roman Empire and ongoing world exploration, with Europeans becoming the heirs of ancient Rome.

Along the top border are the first six Roman emperors (L-R): *Julius Caesar, Augustus, Tiberius, Caligula, Claudius, and Nero.

*Julius Caesar was not technically Emperor. The Senate deemed him more of a tyrant and dictator, hence why they assassinated him. Nevertheless, his story ties in to the eventual establishment of the Roman Empire, and the leaders who would rule over it. The Roman Empire officially began in 27 BCE when Augustus Caesar became the first imperator (emperor) of Rome.

At the bottom (L-R) are: Galba, Otho, Vitellius, Vespasianus (Vespasian), Titus, And Domitianus (Domitian).

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