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Early English Map of the Holy Land
This map of the Holy Land, published in The History of the World by Sir Walter Raleigh in 1621, is one of the first maps of the region published in England.
The map represents a cartographic interpretation of biblical geography as understood in the early 17th century. It illustrates the territories described in the Old Testament, particularly those associated with the ancient Israelites and surrounding peoples, including Philistines, Moabites, Ammonites, and Edomites. The map is oriented with east at the top, a common convention in biblical mapping of the period, and prominently labels regional divisions, place names, and geographical features with strong scriptural associations.
Raleigh, an English courtier, explorer, and writer, authored The History of the World during his imprisonment in the Tower of London. The work aimed to interpret sacred and secular history through a Christian lens and included extensive biblical exegesis. This map accompanied the narrative of the Old Testament and was intended to provide a visual aid for understanding the events described therein.
The map covers an area from the Mediterranean (“Syrian or Mediteran Sea”) to the Arabian desert, and from Phoenicia in the north to Egypt in the south. Notable bodies of water include the “Sea of Galilee,” the “Dead Sea or ye Lake of Asphaltes,” and the “Egyptian Sea” (Mediterranean). Jerusalem is prominently marked near the center, anchoring the religious and historical narrative.
Tribes of Israel are denoted across their traditional allotments: “JUDA,” “BENJAMIN,” “SIMEON,” and others. Surrounding nations are labeled with historical and scriptural names: “Moabites sometime Emims,” “Philistines,” “Amorites,” “Hittites,” and “Amalekites.” Cities such as “Jericho,” “Bethlehem,” “Gaza,” and “Tyre” are identified alongside lesser-known biblical sites. The map also includes topographical markers like mountains and deserts, including “Mountains of Araby Stonie,” “The mountains of Armenia,” and “The desert Arabia.”
![[Tribe of Judah] Tribus Iuda id est, pars illa Terra Sanctae quam in ingressu Tribus Iuda confecuta fuit](https://storage.googleapis.com/raremaps/img/small/82548.jpg)
![Jerusalem in Her Grandeur, A.D. 33 – The Triumphal Entry of Christ into the Holy City [with:] Jerusalem in Her Fall, As now viewed from the Mount of Olives](https://storage.googleapis.com/raremaps/img/small/104688.jpg)
