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This engraving by Cornelius de Bruyn presents a pair of detailed views of Scanderoon (İskenderun) and Famagusta, showcasing two significant coastal locations of the eastern Mediterranean during the late 17th century. De Bruyn, a Dutch painter and traveler renowned for his meticulous and objective illustrations, created these views as part of his extensive travels throughout the Ottoman Empire between 1677 and 1684. The engravings are featured in his published travelogue, which documented the landscapes, cities, and cultures he encountered with remarkable precision.
The upper view depicts Scanderoon, also known as İskenderun, a port city on the Mediterranean coast of present-day Turkey. Framed by a rugged mountain range in the background, the city stretches along the shoreline with a visible mix of buildings and fortifications. The harbor is animated with ships under sail, reflecting Scanderoon’s historical importance as a trade and maritime hub in the Ottoman Empire.
The lower view portrays Famagusta, a fortified city on the eastern coast of Cyprus, renowned for its impressive walls and Gothic architecture. Dominating the scene is the former Cathedral of St. Nicholas, converted into a mosque following the Ottoman conquest of the island in 1571. The city’s fortifications are meticulously illustrated, showcasing bastions, towers, and other defensive features that underscore its strategic importance during the period.
Cornelis de Bruyn , 1652-c.1726 was a Dutch portrait painter and traveler.
De Bruyn painted for some years in Italy, where he was known, in Rome, as Adonis. Bruyn is remembered chiefly for the records of his extensive travels in Egypt, Persia, India, and other countries, illustrated with his own designs.
![Turkey in Asia [with Cyprus]](https://storage.googleapis.com/raremaps/img/small/59273.jpg)
![(Constantinople) Accurate Vorstellung der Orientalisch Kayserlichen Haupt- und Residenz-Stadt Constantinopel samt ihrer Gegend und Zweyen Beruhmten Meer-Engen, Bosphoro Thracio und Hellesponto, oder dem Freto der Dardanellen [Accurate depiction of the Oriental Imperial capital and residence city of Constantinople along with its surroundings and two famous sea straits, the Bosphorus and the Hellespont, or the Dardanelles Strait]](https://storage.googleapis.com/raremaps/img/small/105173.jpg)