21. "Imperiul Roman" ("Roman Empire") historical map, by Abraham Ortelius, Orbis Terrarum edition, Antwerp, 1581, rare, collector's item

Starting price

EUR 600

Sold

EUR 1.800

Session

Thu, 17 November 2022 19:00

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Historical map of the Roman Empire showing its extent during its period of maximum expansion. Comprises the territory between the British Isles, the Atlantic Ocean, the Atlas Mountains of North Africa, Egypt, Arabia, Assyria, Caspian Sea and Sarmatia. In the northern part of the empire, Dacia is also mentioned, presented with the two capitals: Sarmisegetusa Regia, from the time of the Dacian kings, and Ulpia Traiana, built by Trajan after the former’s conquest (the author makes a mistake). Also, Danubius flu qui et Ister (Danube) and Pons Traiani (Traian's Bridge) appear on the map. Dacia is bordered by Pannonia to the west, Ilyricum to the southwest, Mysia and Thracia to the south, Dinogeția and the Black Sea to the east, and Sarmatia to the north and northeast. In the upper register, the map includes three ornamental inset maps with vegetal and floral motifs, mascheroni, putti: on the left side, in the medallion, the goddess Minerva surrounded by the inscription "ROMA TUUM NOMEN TERRIS FATALE REGENDIS" is represented; on the right side, one can see the portrait of Romulus at old age, surrounded by the inscription "ROMULO URBIS AFTERNAE CONDITORI", and in the centre one can see the title of the map, on the right of which a quote from Vitruvius, a laureate of the Roman empire and people, is recorded. In the lower register, three more inset maps with detailed texts about the origin and history of the Roman Empire are included: On the left, the text has the title "Originis, Incrementi, et Culminis Imperii Romani, breuis enumeratio" (Origin, growth, and territorial peak reached by the Roman Empire), in the middle, it is mentioned that the genealogy of the empire is conducted after Livio, Dionysio and Plutarch, and on the right, a genealogy of the rulers of the Roman people from the foundation of Rome to the Tarquinius Superbus is presented, with the symbol of the legendary founders of Rome (the wolf with the twin brothers, Romulus and Remus) found above.

Dimensions

width 55.5 cm, height 48 cm, custom 48 × 55,5 cm

Description

hand-coloured copper engraving, striped paper

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