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This is a 1650 map of the Tribe of Dan’s territory in ancient Palestine, drawn by Thomas Fuller and engraved by Robert Vaughan.
The map, titled Dan, Serpens juxta viam qui calces equit mordet, et decidit sessor ejus retrosum, originates from Fuller’s A Pisgah-Sight of Palestine, a detailed geographical and biblical history of the Holy Land, published in London by John Williams. The title is This is a reference to Genesis 49:17, where Jacob prophesies about the Tribe of Dan, likening it to a serpent that ambushes its enemies. The imagery reflects Dan’s strategic and sometimes treacherous role among the Israelite tribes.
The map centers on Bethlehem and extends westward to the coastal cities of Ekron and Ashdod (Azotus), with Lydda appearing in the north. The cartography emphasizes key biblical settlements associated with the Tribe of Dan, including Gath, Modin, and Ramah. The map is richly illustrated with symbolic depictions of cities, mountains, and rivers, enhancing its visual appeal. The coastline along the Mediterranean is particularly detailed, featuring ships and sea creatures.
The map features a striking maritime scene in the upper left corner, where a ship encounters a sea monster, likely an allusion to biblical trials or divine interventions. A large pair of compasses appears in the ocean, a traditional symbol of cartographic measurement. The lower-left medallion contains an emblem with a leaping lion, referencing the biblical association of Dan with a lion’s whelp (Deuteronomy 33:22). Fuller’s maps often included such emblematic imagery to reinforce theological and historical themes.
Fuller’s Pisgah-Sight of Palestine was one of the earliest comprehensive geographical works on the Holy Land, combining biblical exegesis with cartographic scholarship. Published during the English Civil War, the work reflects Fuller’s intellectual engagement with religious history and geography at a time of political and theological upheaval in England. This map, like others in the series, serves both as a geographic record and a visual exegesis of biblical narratives.
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