Jerusalem at the centre of the world
By [BÜNTING, Heinrich] , 1600
£3,500
BUY

Die ganze Welt in ein Kleberblat.

Asia Israel
  • Author: [BÜNTING, Heinrich]
  • Publication place: [Magdeburg,
  • Publisher: Andreas Duncker,
  • Publication date: 1600].
  • Physical description: Double-page woodcut map, with fine original hand-colour, German text to verso. Maps 3500
  • Dimensions: 273 by 352mm. (10.75 by 13.75 inches).
  • Inventory reference: 16615

Notes

An iconic world map, with a view of Jerusalem at its centre, which shows the three principal continents of Europe (red), Asia (green), and Africa (yellow) in the form of a three-leaf clover. Although it has been posited that the three-fold shape symbolizes the Holy Trinity, the title of the map notes that it is formed after the "arms of my dear fatherland" as an elaborate homage to his native city of Hanover, the arms of which carry a green trefoil.

The water between Asia and Africa is coloured red, to represent the Red Sea, and at the centre of the image, connecting the three continents, is the city of Jerusalem. As a holy city for Christians, Jews, and Muslims alike, Jerusalem served as the spiritual heartland of all three continents. Within each leaf, several other important cities are identified by name and some, such as Rome, Alexandria, and Persepolis, are represented in miniature.

Some other countries are depicted as islands outside of the trefoil, including England, Denmark, Sweden, and America. While England is, of course, an island, Bünting knew very well that Denmark and Sweden were not; it may be that the Protestant theologian was so eager to include countries that were aligned with his own religious beliefs that he chose to forego cartographic accuracy. As far as America was concerned, Bünting noted elsewhere that "there is no need here to say more as it is not mentioned in the Holy Scripture".

Bibliography

  1. Laor, p. 129
  2. Shirley [World], 142.
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