Matthäus Seutter, Peloponnesus Hodie Morea…, 1730

A Battlefield of Empires

This map tells the story of the Morea (the Peloponnese peninsula) during a period of intense conflict between the Venetian Republic and the Ottoman Empire. By the early 18th century, this region was the primary setting of the Ottoman–Venetian Wars. Seutter’s map serves as both a geographic record and a piece of political propaganda, documenting the various provinces—such as Arcadia, Messenia, and Laconia—at a time when their possession was fiercely contested.

The map captures the mountainous terrain of the Greek peninsula and its complex coastline, dotted with strategic forts and ancient cities. It reflects a Europe fascinated by the “Classical” past but deeply preoccupied with the contemporary military struggle against the “Grand Turk” for control of the Mediterranean.

The allegorical cartouche depicts a Venetian Lion triumphant over a fallen Ottoman soldier and a discarded crescent shield, while a Christian cross radiates light from an altar—symbolizing the victory of the “Holy League” over the Ottoman forces. The peninsula is divided into regions, each highlighted with contrasting hand-color to aid in military and scholarly identification. The map includes detailed renderings of the nearby Ionian Islands, such as Zante (Zakynthos) and Cephalonia, which served as vital naval bases for the Venetian fleet.

Georg Matthäus Seutter was a prominent German mapmaker in the mid-eighteenth century. He trained as an engraver under Johann Baptist Homann in Nuremburg before setting up shop in his native Augsburg. In 1727 he was granted the title Imperial Geographer. His most famous work is Atlas Novus Sive Tabulae Geographicae, published in two volumes ca.1730.

Peloponnesus Hodie Morea is a quintessential example of 18th-century European cartography, combining artistic embellishment with scientific detail. The map not only serves as a geographical representation of the Peloponnesian region but also reflects the cultural and historical context of its time, showcasing the era’s cartographic advancements and artistic tendencies.