1779 Sicilia Antiqua quae et Sicania et Trinacria dicta.

This intriguing map by John Blair depicts Sicily as it was in ancient times. The map was included in Blair’s atlas, a fascinating oeuvre which was created for and dedicated to August, Princes Dowager of Wales, in 1779. Blair’s aim was to provide an accurate chronology and history of the world from its creation to the year of Christ 1779, for it was his belief that too much time and attention were being spent on the study and discussion of historical events without a proper chronological framework in which to place them. One aim of Blair’s atlas was to provide such a framework in order to facilitate better understanding of historical annals. In addition to providing chronology, the atlas provides copious amounts of historical information divided into categories such as ‘Remarkable Events of Sacred History’, and ‘Remarkable Events of Profane History’, all of which are discussed in considerable detail. These divisions are further broken down to enumerate specific people, including kings,