Armenia on ancient maps

Armenia is found in the world’s oldest maps and history books. Sometimes as an independent state, and sometimes divided between neighboring empires, but nevertheless the name Hayastan-Armenia has always been mentioned since ancient Greek and Roman maps to this day. In this article we will look at some of the ancient maps, to give our readers an idea of the position that Armenia occupied on the ancient maps of the world.

For those interested in more detail, I recommend reading Rouben Galichian’s work “Armenia in World Cartography”, 2005, or a brief version of it called Historic Maps of Armenia, 2018.

1. Babylonian clay tablet, 6th century BC

The oldest extant map of the world is depicted on a clay tablet. It is the Babylonian map found in Iraq, in 19 century. Now it is stored in the British Museum.

This Babylonian map of the World dates back to 6 century BC. In ancient Assyrian and Babylonian sources the kingdom of Ararat is referred to as Urartu. This name is mentioned on the world’s oldest map. Of the countries mentioned in this map, only Armenia still exists. All the other ones have disappeared from the world map.

According to cartographer Rouben Galichian, the map shows the world in the form of a circle, surrounded by “bitter” waters, in which there are 7 islands. In the center of the map is Babylon, next to it Armenia and Assyria are depicted. Another 7 cities are depicted in a form of small circles. From the mountains of Armenia, the Euphrates River flows through Babylon and Marshes, and reaches the Persian Gulf.

On the back of the tile there is a text that describes seven islands in the sea and unusual creatures living there. The islands are depicted in a form of triangles, most of which are damaged and illegible.

Armenia on ancient maps – Babylonian clay tablet, 6th century BC

British Museum, London

2. Herodotus, 5th century BC

The world according to Herodotus. Edited by Charles Muller, published in the Smith’s atlas. Armenia has a central position among the countries that existed at that time.

Armenia on ancient maps – Herodotus, 5th century BC

Smith’s atlas, British Museum, London, 1874

3. Eratosthenes, 3-2 century BC

Reconstructed map of Eratosthenes by German cartographer von Spruner (1855).

Armenia on ancient maps – Eratosthenes, 3-2 century BC

Rouben Galichian’s personal collection, now in Matenadaran

4. Strabo, 1st century BC

Based on Strabo’s work, the British cartographer John Murray reconstructed the world map, one of the chapters of which is dedicated to the geography of Armenia.

Armenia on ancient maps – Strabo, 1st century BC

Edited by Charles Muller.

5. Claudius Ptolemy, 2nd century

Famous Greek geographer and cosmologist Claudius Ptolemy was the most prominent cartographer in the ancient world. His most important work is the eight-volume Geography. The text about Armenia in this work is in the fifth volume.

This is a map of the world, surrounded by winds and divided into climate zones. Besides the Red Sea, all the seas are blue and the mountain are green. The Greater Armenia and The Lesser Armenia are located between the Black and Caspian Seas.

Armenia on ancient maps – Claudius Ptolemy (2nd century)

The map was designed by Martin Waldseemüller and issued by Schott in 1513.

British Museum, London

6. Claudius Ptolemy, 2nd century

The center of the map in white is the Greater Armenia (Armenia Maior), which borders with Media in the east, with Assyria in the south, Lesser Armenia in the west (Armenia Minor), and Colchis (Abkhazia), Iberia (Virk), Albania in the north.

Armenia on ancient maps – Claudius Ptolemy (2nd century)

Reissued by Nicolaus Germanus, 1482

British Museum, London

7. Countries occupied by Alexander the Great

This map is one of the pages of the Atlas published in Latin in Amsterdam. It represents Alexander the Great’s invasion of India. The map shows the Greater Armenia.

Countries occupied by Alexander the Great

Abraham Ortelius, 1595

British Library, London

8. Map of the Holy Land or the “Earthly Paradise”

The map covers the area between the Mediterranean Sea and the Persian Gulf, and the prominent Eden, located near the city of Babel (Babylon). The beautifully decorated title is surrounded by pictures of scenes of Eden on both sides. The map itself is stunningly created, with the combination of real and biblical geography. Here you will find the Land of Nod, the Garden of Eden, the Tower of Babel, and other semi-mythical places. The map was drawn by Visscher as a part of a five-part series of maps to be included in Abraham Van den Brock’s Bible written in 1657. This is the first edition of this important series of maps that formed the basis of many other Bible maps that appeared in the 18th century.

Armenia on ancient maps – Map of the Holy Land or the “Earthly Paradise”

Nicolaes Visscher, 1657

9. Map of the Terrestrial Paradise

This map was drawn by English cartographer Emanuel Bowen. It is also based on religious beliefs. The Terrestrial Paradise, Eden, is shown on the territory of Armenia, between the lakes Van and Kaputan. The map lists four rivers flowing from the Bible Paradise: Aras (Gihon), Pishon, Euphrates and Tigris. At the center of the map is Mount Ararat.

Armenia on ancient maps – Map of the Terrestrial Paradise

Emanuel Bowen, 1780

Rouben Galichian’s personal collection, now in Matenadaran

10. The map of Armenia according to old and new geographers

This map of Armenia was published in Venice in the 18th century. Many cartographers and geographers consider this map to be a replacement for the missing map of Shirakatsi’s “Geography” (“Ashkharhatsuyts”).

The map of Armenia according to old and new geographers

Venice , 1751

Rouben Galichian’s personal collection

Article by Tigran Varag

Special thanks to cartographer Rouben Galichian for providing the maps

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