Carte de la Grece

Lovely hand colored map of Greece based on the important work by DeLisle.

This map covers the area from southeast Italy to the southern coast of the Black Sea, Cyprus and eastern Turkey. It shows basic topographic details and city locations while providing text relating to locations of interest and historic sites, like Mount Olympus and ancient ruins.

A decorative title cartouche in the lower left is the highlight of the page. A galley supports icons of Greek culture and architecture, including Corinthian columns, marble status, and mythological beings. A Turk can also be seen in the background of the cartouche – a constant reminder of the Ottoman control over the eastern Mediterranean and the empire’s proximity to Europe. The map was based on an earlier issue by Guillame DeLisle and updated by Jean-Claude Dezauche. The cartographer duly credits his predecessor under the title.