Central Italy, Especially Necessary for Reading Classical Authors
This map was likely intended for students and scholars of classical literature, particularly those studying texts by authors such as Cicero, Virgil, Horace, and Livy. These works frequently reference locations, rivers, mountains, and cities in central Italy, and the map would serve as a guide to better understand the spatial dimensions of these texts. Its primary purpose would have been to bridge the gap between the literary descriptions and the actual geography of the Italian peninsula.
The geographic focus of the map would include central Italy, covering regions such as Latium, Umbria, Etruria (modern Tuscany), and Samnium. The map notess major Roman cities such as Rome, Ostia, and Veii, along with significant geographical features like the Tiber River, the Apennine Mountains, and Lake Trasimene.
The map's focus on central Italy underscores the region's importance in the Roman world, both as the heart of the Republic and Empire and as a source of rich literary and historical tradition. As an aid to classical studies, it reflects the enduring relevance of Roman geography in shaping the Western intellectual tradition.
The map includes a large inset, focused on the 7 hills of Rome.