Ortelius, Tusciae Antiquae Typus . . . , 1584 [1592]

Tuscany in Etruscan Times

Tuscany is renowned as the homeland of the Etruscan civilization. The present map provides a detailed and meticulously compiled representation of Etruscan Tuscany.

Ortelius was a great collector of newly discovered facts and information. One of the foundational elements of this map is its use of primary sources. According to Van Den Broecke, Ortelius’s main geographical foundation for “Tusciae Antiquae Typus” came from Bellarmati’s depiction of Tuscany. Bellarmati’s cartographic work in the 16th century was known for its precision and the map’s positioning with this source adds a layer of credibility to its design.

However, Ortelius’s endeavor was not limited to contemporary cartographic sources. Recognizing the rich history of Tuscany, he sought to interweave modern geography with historical context. To accomplish this, he turned to classical sources that chronicled the history and geography of the region: Livius, Plinius, Cato, Vergilius, Halicarnassæus, and Plutarchus. By consulting these ancient authors, Ortelius ensured that his map was a synthesis of both the spatial realities of the 16th century and the historical narrative of the Etruscan era.

The map depicts the coastlines in detail, surrounded by islands. The sailing ship represents maritime activities that were prominent in the region. The three large cartouches on the map hold essential information about the region and a touch of artistic design typical of maps of the time.

Flemish by birth, Abraham Ortelius (1527-1598) became geographer to the king of Spain in 1575, whereby his access to Spanish maps gave him the means to create a more complete image of the New World than had previously been disseminated. A brilliant thinker, Ortelius offered the very first theory of continental drift, published in Thesaurus Geographicus (1596). Gerardus Mercator and Ortelius were contemporaries and associates, close enough that history records it was through Mercator’s encouragement that Ortelius pursued the creation of his important atlas, first issued in 1570.

A second state of “Tuscany” appeared in 1595 with Roman Roads added.

A beautiful detailed map from the heyday of Dutch decorative cartography, Ortelius’ Tusciae contains all the characteristics of the Golden Age of Dutch and Flemish cartography including remarkably fine engraving and wonderful decorative elements.

Refs.: Van Den Broecke, Ortelius Atlas Maps