The Parergon can be called a truly original work of Ortelius, who drew the maps based on his research. Later editions included Additamenta (additions), resulting in Ortelius' historical atlas, the Parergon, mostly bound together with the atlas. This first edition contained seventy maps on fifty-three sheets. It was one of the most expensive books ever published. He completed the atlas in 1569, and in May of 1570, the Theatrum was available for sale. In 1568 the production of individual maps for his atlas Theatrum Orbis Terrarum was already in full swing. In 1565 he published a map of Egypt and a map of the Holy Land, a large map of Asia followed. The inspiration for this map may well have been Gastaldi's large world map. In 1564 he published his first map, a large and ambitious world wall map. In addition, he travelled a lot and visited Italy and France, made contacts everywhere with scholars and editors, and maintained extensive correspondence with them. Luke as an "illuminator of maps." Besides colouring maps, Ortelius was a dealer in antiques, coins, maps, and books, with the book and map trade gradually becoming his primary occupation.īusiness went well because his means permitted him to start an extensive collection of medals, coins, antiques, and a library of many volumes. He learned Latin and studied Greek and mathematics.Ībraham and his sisters Anne and Elizabeth took up map colouring. The maker of the 'first atlas', the Theatrum Orbis Terrarum (1570), was born on 4 April 1527 into an old Antwerp family. However, the legend persisted, and four hundred years after Pope Alexander III wrote his letter to Presbyter Johannes, Abraham Ortelius issues his separate map. It was moved again to Central Asia and ended up in Abyssinia. Still, on the map of Marino Sanuto, it was placed in further India. On the larger map in Higden's Polychronicon the empire of Prester John was located in lower Scythia within the limits of Europe. A few die-hards like John de Plano Carpini and Marco Polo persisted in the belief that prester John still reigned in all his splendour deep in the heart of the Orient. But the popular fancy was not quickly dispelled, and instead of allowing their bubble to be punctured, the people merely transferred the kingdom of Prester John to Africa - specifically Abyssinia. These travellers soon learned that His Highness Presbyter Johannes and the Christian kingdom in deepest Asia were probably myths. Dominican and Franciscan missionaries and civil ambassadors of peace plodded back and forth between the pope, the King of France and the Mogul Khan. Pope Innocent IV was even more determined than his predecessor and decided to convert the barbarians instead of conquering them. The pope's physician was dispatched to deliver the letter in person. Pope Alexander II resolved to make contact with Prester John, and his first step was to address a letter to him (dated 27 September 1177). The mysterious Priest-King became a symbol of hope in the Christian world beset by Mongol hordes. He had broken the power of the Musselman in his domain after a fierce and bloody fight. In the right lower corner is a similar flower-bordered rectangular cartouche with the map's title.Ībout 1150 A.D., a rumour spread through Europe that somewhere in Asia, there was a powerful Christian emperor named Presbyter Johannes (with the court title of 'Gurkhan'), who had founded the kingdom of Kara Khitai. Above the dedication is the coat of arms of Prester John, and a long genealogical record traces his ancestors to King David. The dedication to biblical David is at the upper left, surrounded by the typical floral strap-like ornamentation. This map, known as the Prester John Map depicts Africa from the Mediterranean to the Mountains of the Moon, which are placed below Mozambique.
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