Description
Ortelius’s c.17th map showing the areas of Alexander the Great’s conquests.
This state of the map is identified by the following; fifth line in the sea now reads: “nemore columna eminet regis Erythri”. “Cythuos” in upper left corner changed to “Cythnos” and “Arrh. in Indicis” just above the fleet of ships changed to “Arr. in Indicis”.
The inset shows the oracle of Jupiter Ammon, supposedly situated in present day Libya, where Alexander went to ask what would be the result of his expedition. He also expressed the desire to be buried there, but was eventually buried in Alexandria in Egypt. Ortelius derives his information on the oracle, from Lucretius, Solinus, Ovidius, Lucanus and many others. He complains that more attention is paid by classical authors to Alexander’s personal habits, than to the regions and territories he conquered, but restricts his own discussions to the two Iupiter Ammon temples and statues, and does not discuss Alexander’s travels.
