This map, titled Carte des Embouchures du Nil et Partie de son Cours: Le Delta et l'Isthme de Suez, originates from Bellin's Petite Atlas Maritime, published in 1764. The map provides a detailed depiction of the Lower Nile Delta and the Isthmus of Suez, showcasing the intricate network of waterways, settlements, and geographical features of this historically significant region.
The map is oriented with east at the top, a common practice in historical cartography that can disorient modern viewers accustomed to north-oriented maps. The Mediterranean Sea is depicted on the left side, while the Red Sea is shown at the top right, indicating the critical junction of these bodies of water with the Nile Delta.
The map illustrates the multiple branches of the Nile River as they spread out to form the delta, an area known for its fertile land and agricultural significance. Key branches such as the Rosetta (Rashid) and Damietta (Damiyat) branches are prominently marked, along with numerous smaller tributaries and canals that crisscross the delta.
Several notable towns and cities are labeled, including Alexandria (Alexandrie) near the western edge by the Mediterranean, and Cairo (Le Caire), which is indicated further inland towards the delta's apex. The map also highlights the locations of ancient and contemporary settlements such as Hermopolis, Damanhour (Damahoun), and Tanta (Tafta ou Tava).
Geographical features such as lakes and marshes are also detailed. Lake Mareotis (Lac Mareotis) and Lake Borollos (Lac Bervie) are among the prominent features that contribute to the delta's complex hydrology.
By 1764, the Nile Delta was a region of immense historical and economic importance. It was a hub of agricultural productivity, facilitated by the Nile's annual flooding, which deposited nutrient-rich silt across the delta's plains. This map reflects the contemporary understanding of the region's waterways and their critical role in supporting the local economy. The inclusion of the Isthmus of Suez is particularly significant, as it underscores the strategic importance of this narrow land bridge that connects Africa to Asia. Although the Suez Canal had not yet been constructed (it would open in 1869), the map hints at the area's potential as a vital trade route, as indicated by the various routes and canals depicted.
Produced by Jacques-Nicolas Bellin, a renowned French cartographer and mapmaker to the King of France, this map exemplifies the precision and detail characteristic of 18th-century French cartography. Bellin's work was highly regarded for its accuracy and was widely used for navigation and exploration. His Petite Atlas Maritime was an essential reference for mariners and scholars of the time.
Jacques-Nicolas Bellin (1703-1772) was among the most important mapmakers of the eighteenth century. In 1721, at only the age of 18, he was appointed Hydrographer to the French Navy. In August 1741, he became the first Ingénieur de la Marine of the Dépôt des cartes et plans de la Marine (the French Hydrographic Office) and was named Official Hydrographer of the French King.
During his term as Official Hydrographer, the Dépôt was the one of the most active centers for the production of sea charts and maps in Europe. Their output included a folio-format sea atlas of France, the Neptune Francois. He also produced a number of sea atlases of the world, including the Atlas Maritime and the Hydrographie Francaise. These gained fame and distinction all over Europe and were republished throughout the eighteenth and even in the nineteenth century.
Bellin also produced smaller format maps such as the 1764 Petit Atlas Maritime, containing 580 finely-detailed charts. He also contributed a number of maps for the 15-volume Histoire Generale des Voyages of Antoine François Prévost.
Bellin set a very high standard of workmanship and accuracy, cementing France's leading role in European cartography and geography during this period. Many of his maps were copied by other mapmakers across the continent.