This map, titled Delineatio Africae Provinciae accuratior, presents a detailed cartographic representation of the Roman province of Africa Proconsularis, encompassing present-day Tunisia, parts of Libya, and eastern Algeria. The map provides a rich depiction of the ancient landscape, meticulously illustrating numerous towns, settlements, and an extensive network of roads connecting the region's key urban and rural centers.
The map includes a plethora of significant Roman towns such as Karthago (Carthage), the region's administrative and cultural hub, and Hadrumetum, a prominent port city. Further inland, cities like Thelepte, Capsa, and Tacape demonstrate the breadth of Roman influence in both coastal and interior regions. Other notable locations include Utica, Thuburbo Majus, Thysdrus (modern-day El Djem, famous for its amphitheater), and Leptis Magna, an essential commercial hub of Tripolitania.
A key feature of the map is the delineation of roads, reflecting the advanced Roman infrastructure that connected settlements across the province. These roads are carefully marked, demonstrating their function in facilitating trade, governance, and military movements. The road network connects coastal cities to interior towns, highlighting strategic routes that traverse the landscape and link fertile plains with the Sahara's fringes.
The map also captures the geographic diversity of the region, with references to physical features such as mountain ranges, rivers, and the Mediterranean coastline. Prominent landmarks like Mons Aurasius (Aurès Mountains) and the Melano Gaetuli Desert underscore the challenges of traversing the region's varied terrain. Additionally, the proximity to Sicily is emphasized, underlining the importance of Africa Proconsularis in the broader Mediterranean world.
This map illustrates the Roman province during its height, serving as an essential center of agricultural production, particularly grain, which was vital for supplying Rome.