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The Papyrus Map of Sir Artemidorus |
The map drawn on papyrus by Artemidorus is considered the oldest map from ancient times, and it was first exhibited at the cultural center Palazzo Bricherasio in Turin, Northern Italy, last Wednesday.
This map belongs to Artemidorus of Ephesus, a renowned geographer who lived in the first century BCE. He traveled extensively throughout the Mediterranean basin, particularly in Spain, Egypt, and Italy while serving as an ambassador in Rome. These journeys allowed him to compile a comprehensive geographical work consisting of 11 volumes, which is regarded as the oldest map of the Western world.
A significant portion of this valuable papyrus collection was used to wrap the 1800-year-old mummy discovered by archaeologists in 1990. Subsequently, it was purchased by an Egyptian collector and changed hands several times before being acquired by San Paolo, a private company, for a price of 2.7 million euros.
Measuring 2.7 meters in length and despite being considerably damaged, the 50 yellowed pieces of paper still prominently display the borders of various countries on both the front and back. Furthermore, the outlines of real and imaginary animals resemble an illustrated fable, along with images of human faces, hands, and feet that are still recognizable.
During the exhibition, Professors Claudio Gallazzi and Salvatore Settis stated: “This papyrus book is unique because it is the oldest geographical map of the West and allows us to recall certain historical phases of ancient art. The images collected in this book are even more significant than what we have encountered before.”
The exhibition titled “Les trois vies du papyrus d’Artemidorus” will run until May 7, 2006. Additionally, the exhibition features 140 other artifacts from 30 museums across Europe and America, helping visitors grasp the customs and practices of ancient times, such as the stages of papyrus paper production.
In the next two or three years, Sir Artemidorus’s papyrus map will be displayed in various museums around the world before returning to its permanent exhibition at the Egyptian Museum in Turin.
KIM OANH
