La Grecia Vniversale Antica

Ancient Greece as known in the classical period, with the classical nomenclature superimposed on a map of “modern” or 17th century Greece provided by Giacomo Cantelli da Vignola.
The geographical shape of the region has been taken by Rossi from Cantelli’s map. The two were frequent collaborators although it is not made clear if Cantelli was also responsible for this map which superimposes classical geography onto this map. It is also broadly based on Nicholas Sanson’s map although the engraver, Giorgio Widman, adds typical Italian flair to the piece, with illustrations of mountain ranges, powerful engraving and a martial cartouche illustrated with multiple weapons, a lion’s head, most likely representing Venice and a crescent moon representing the Ottoman Empire. These two regional powers were vying for supremacy on the Adriatic Sea and Crete, which had fallen to the Ottomans less than twenty years ago.
The map covers mainland Greece, North Macedonia, the Greek Islands, the Aegean Sea and the western coast of Anatolia.
[GRC1877]