Hieroglyphic Title! -- Rare Russian Map of The Holy Land
This fascinating map of the Holy Land, produced in Russian, bears the title Места, посещенные Господом нашим Иисусом Христом, which translates as Places Visited by Our Lord Jesus Christ.
The map was created by Stephan Ivanovich Baranovskiy and published by Ю.А. Юнгмайстер (Y.A. Jungmeister). The map includes detailed labels in Russian for key regions and cities significant to Biblical narratives, such as Egypt, Palestine (referred to as the Kingdom of Solomon), and Phoenicia.
The map is divided into color-coded sections, showing the geographical extents of Egypt (pink), Phoenicia (yellow), and Palestine; Kingdom of Solomon (green), with additional markings for the borders of the Tribes of Israel (outlined in red). A legend in the lower left corner explains the color-coding and further clarifies the cartographic symbols, including paths and significant routes such as the "Caravan Roads" and the "Path of Moses."
At the top right are two plans showing the layout of two ancient temples located in the region of Nubia, along the Nile River, near the modern site of Kalabsha. The first temple is situated in the valley of "Calabishe" (Kalabsha), and the second in the valley of "Kirşe". Kalabsha is known for the Temple of Mandulis, a Nubian structure that was originally constructed during the Roman period, around the 1st century AD, under Emperor Augustus. The temple was dedicated to Mandulis, a Nubian god, and was significant in the region's religious life during the Roman occupation of Egypt.
The layout of the temples shows typical features of Egyptian temple architecture, such as columned halls and sanctuaries, aligned in an axial plan. These temples would have been centers of worship, illustrating the blend of Egyptian and Nubian religious practices during this period. The inclusion of both temples in the same plan suggests their proximity and importance as part of the broader religious landscape of Nubia.
One of the key features of the map is its illustration of the route taken by Jesus Christ during His ministry, indicated in three distinct stages corresponding to His first, second, and third years of preaching. In the top left quadrant of the map, there is also an elaborate depiction of ancient Egyptian hieroglyphs, and a detailed architectural plan of significant religious sites, including the layout of Solomon's Temple in Jerusalem.