Collection: Osher Sheet Map Collection

Title: Abrahami Patriarchae Peregrinatio, et Vita. Abrahamo Ortelio Antverpiano auctore.

Title Translation: Wanderings and life of the Patriarch Abraham, by Abraham Ortelius from Antwerp

Barcode: 359

Creator: Ortelius, Abraham, 1527 -1598

Dedicatee: Moflin, Jean

Publisher: Vrients, Jan Baptista

Publishing Location: Antwerp

Region Depicted: Israel · Palestine · Holy Land · Egypt · Sinai, Egypt

Date Produced: 1586

Date Published: 1608

Language: Italian

Historical Context: This map is an acknowledged masterpiece of composition and engraving by the great Flemish cartographer, Abraham Ortelius; it illustrates the Biblical story of Abraham the Patriarch as recorded in Genesis. The Hebrew peoples were originally nomadic. Their origins lie with the Patriarch Abraham and his migration from Mesopotamia to the Promised Land of Canaan, where his followers and descendants settled. The decorative border contains twenty-two medallions portraying scenes from the life of Abraham, such as the sacrifice of Isaac. The central portion is in the form of a tapestry containing two maps. The small inset map at upper left traces Abraham's wanderings from Ur in the Euphrates Valley to the Promised Land of Canaan; several cities are named, the most prominent of which is Salem, the future Jerusalem. The larger map depicts the ancient tribal divisions of the Land of Canaan as described in Genesis; the largest city, as judged by its symbolic representation, is named "Salem, et Ierusalem."

Subjects: Ortelius, Abraham, 1527-1598 · Vrients, Jan Baptista, 1552-1612 · Palestine · Israel · Holy Land · Maps--Early works to 1800 · Bible --Geography · Abraham (Biblical patriarch) · Judaism

Map Type: Geographical, Political

Dimensions: 36 x 48 cm.

Printing Process: Engraving

Printing Technique: Copper

Material Type: Paper

Notes: Verso: Text in Italian. Illustrations around the border depict the life of Abraham. In border surrounding map: "Abraham egredere de terra tua, et de cognatione tua, et veni in terram quam monstrauero tibi. Et dabo et semini tuo post te, terram peregrinationis tuae, omnem terram Chanaan, in possessionem aeternam." Note below inset: "Priuilegio Imperiali, Regio et Belgico decennali 1586".

Brief Description: Map of Palestine and southern Israel. The map shows Sodom and Gomorrha, flooded by the Dead Sea.

Physical Description: 1 map: illustrated, colored

Insets: Arabiae

Theme: The Holy Land

Associated Cartouche: Cartouche, 1586, Abrahami Patriarchae Peregrinatio, et Vita. Abrahamo Ortelio Antverpiano auctore.

Associated Map Imagery: Life of Abraham, 1586, Abrahami Patriarchae Peregrinatio, et Vita. Abrahamo Ortelio Antverpiano auctore.

Collection/Donor: Osher

Permanent URL: https://oshermaps.org/map/359.0001