1572 Benedict Arias Montanus Sacrae Geographiae Tabulam Ex Antiquissimorum…

By: Benito Arias Date: 1572 (published) Antwerp Dimensions: 12.5 x 21 inches (31.75 x 53.5 cm) This is an authentic antique map of the world by Benito Arias, most commonly known as Montanus. The map was prepared for the 8 volume Poyglot Bible out of Antwerp in 1571. This example is the second state of the map published in 1572. This thematic, double-hemisphere map of the world was designed to depict the dissemination of the various Tribes of Israel and the descendants of Noah whom were responsible for repopulating the world after the great flood. Symbols correspond with Latin and Hebrew text to aide in this maps function as a theological reference. While the motivation behind the map was to aide in religious geography, it’s the physical geography that makes this map one of the most intriguing world maps to come out of the mid-16th century. The most famous geographical aspect of the map is the large land mass that appears to be rising out of the ocean just below the island of Java. Thi