Ellas, Seu Graecia Universa
Cartographer / Artist: Johann Laurenberg and Frederik de Wit
Date Created: c. 1660
Medium: Hand-colored copperplate engraving
Physical Dimensions: 20.5 × 16.9 inches
Geographic Scope: Greece and the Aegean Archipelago
Archive Catalog ID: fp5-img-1943
Provenance: The Dr. Joseph R. Rubini Archive
Collection: Greece
This magnificent 17th-century map depicts Ancient Greece, the Aegean Archipelago, Crete, and the western coast of Asia Minor. Authored by the German mathematician and historian Johann Laurenberg and published in Amsterdam by Frederik de Wit, the map delineates classical regions including Macedonia, Thessaly, Epirus, Boeotia, and the Peloponnese, densely filled with Latinized ancient place names. The map serves as a historical reconstruction of the Greek world during classical antiquity, blending geographical precision with humanistic scholarship. In the lower-left corner, an elaborate allegorical cartouche features the goddess Athena (Minerva) clad in armor, holding a shield featuring Medusa and accompanied by her owl, books, and celestial instruments. In the lower-right, a secondary cartouche depicts classical figures flanking distance scales in Italian and German miles. Published during the zenith of Dutch cartography, this work exemplifies the period's synthesis of classical history and decorative art.
Condition: Light age toning and minor margin creasing consistent with age.. Original central fold visible with faint toning along the spine.. Attractive hand coloring with distinct wash highlights on regional borders.




