Arculf Map of Jerusalem

The Arculf Map of Jerusalem is an ancient ground plan map of the city of Jerusalem which was published in manuscripts of the first book of De Locis Sanctis by Arculf via Adomnán, dated to 680 CE.[1] Not all the known manuscripts of the text include the maps and plans.[2] The earliest known manuscript showing the map dates from the ninth century, two centuries after Arculf's journey.[2]

The Arculf Map of Jerusalem

It was the oldest known map of Jerusalem prior to the discovery of the Madaba Map.[3]

Description

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The map shows relevant Christian sites in relation to each other.[1]

Arculf spent nine months in Jerusalem before transmitting the story of his travels to Adomnán, for the benefit of other pilgrims. Adomnán wrote that Arculf had drawn his maps and plans on wax tablets.[2]

Notes

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  1. ^ a b Siew 2008, pp. 18, 19, 24.
  2. ^ a b c Harvey 1987, p. 466.
  3. ^ Tobler 1858, p. 3.

References

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  • Harvey, Paul D. A. (1987). "Local and regional cartography in medieval Europe" (PDF). The History of Cartography. Vol. 1: Cartography in Prehistoric, Ancient and Medieval Europe and the Mediterranean. University of Chicago Press. ISBN 978-0-226-31633-8.
  • Siew, Tsafra (2008). "Representations of Jerusalem in Christian European maps from the 6th to the 16th centuries: a comparative tool for reading the message of a map in its cultural context". European Forum at the Hebrew University. CiteSeerX 10.1.1.541.4700.
  • Tobler, Titus (1858). Planography of Jerusalem: memoir to accompany the new ground-plan of the city of Jerusalem and the environs, constructed anew by C.W.M. Vande Velde. Justus Perthes.