Historic Map : Spruner Map of Asia Minor (Turkey) in Antiquity, 1865, Vintage Wall Art

A particularly interesting map, this is Karl von Spruner's 1865 rendering of Asia Minor in antiquity. This map covers Asia Minor from the Aegean Sea to Armenia and from Cyprus to the Black Sea, including all of modern day Turkey, Cyprus, Lebanon, and Syria. Like most of Spruner's work this example overlays ancient political geographies on relatively contemporary physical geographies, thus identifying the sites of forgotten towns and villages, the movements of armies, and the disposition of lands in the region. There are three insets in the lower quadrants focusing on the early kingdoms of Lycia and Ionia, as well as a general overview of Asia Minor. As a whole the map labels important cities, rivers, mountain ranges and other minor topographical detail. Territories and countries outlined in color. All text is in Latin. The whole is rendered in finely engraved detail exhibiting the fine craftsmanship for which the Perthes firm is known. Of particular interest to classical scholars.