1624: Parergon. Atlas of the Ancient World by Abraham Ortelius

Theatri Orbis Terrarum Parergon; Sive Veteris Geographiae Tabulae, Commentarijs Geographicis et Historicis illustratae... Balthasaris Moreti. Antverpiae, ex officina Plantiniana, M.DC.XXIV

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The final and most comprehensive edition of the Parergon, Ortelius's atlas of ancient Geography. The Parergon maps began appearing as supplements within Ortelius main work the Theatrum Orbis Terrarum in 1579 with 3 maps. Over the time, the map collection became an atlas in its own right. The Parergon was published mainly as appendix of the Theatrum, but also a few times separately.

The maps comprises both classical and biblical themes, including the wanderings of Odysseus, Abraham and Paul the Apostle. In this 1624 edition, Moretus included the 4 sheet reproduction of the Peutinger table, an illustrated road map showing the cursus publicus, the road network in the Roman Empire.

Koeman mentioned about the Parergon of Ortelius: This atlas of ancient geography must be regarded as a personal work of Ortelius. For this work he did not, as in the 'Theatrum', copy other people's maps but drew the originals himself which were later engraved by Jan Wierix ... The maps in the Parergon have to be evaluated as the most outstanding engravings depicting the wide-spread interest in classical geography in the 16th century.

  • Title Theatri Orbis Terrarum Parergon; Sive Veteris Geographiae Tabulae, Commentarijs Geographicis et Historicis illustratae... Balthasaris Moreti. Antverpiae, ex officina Plantiniana, M.DC.XXIV
  • Author Ortelius, Abraham; Moretus, Balthasar; Llwyd, Humphrey
  • Year 1624
  • Publisher Balthasar Moretus, Ex Officina Plantiniana, Antwerp
  • Size Imperial Folio, 47.5 x 31.0 cm
  • Colour uncoloured
  • Illustrations Engraved title, arms of Philip IV of Spain on verso, woodcut printer's device on final leaf, 39 double-page engraved maps, 3 double-page engraved views and 2 plates 'Ordines Sacri Romani', woodcut initials and numerous illustrations of coins.
  • Cover Full leather binding with blind and gilt stamping, initials I.W.E.A.P. and the date 1628
  • References Koeman III Ort 46; Phillips Atlases 5643.

List of all Maps

  • Geographia Sacra
  • Palestinae sive Totius Terrae Promissionis Nova Descriptio Auctore Tilemanno Stella Sigenensi.
  • Typus Chorographicus, Celebrium Locorum in Regno Iudae et Israhel Arte Factus a Tilemanno
  • Abrahami Patriarchae Peregrinatio, et Vita.
  • Peregrinationis Divi Pauli Typus Chorographicus. In quo et novi Testamenti ...
  • Rdo. Dno. D. Adr. Stalpartio Abb. Togerlesi Disniso.d. Lumen Historiarum per Orientem.
  • Lumen Historiarum per Occidentem ex Conatibus Fran. Haraei Antverpiae
  • Aevi Veteris, Typus Geographicus.
  • Romani Imperii Imago.
  • Europam, sive Celticam veterem, sic describere conabar Abrah. Ortelius.
  • Britannicarum Insularum Typus.
  • Hispaniae veteris Descriptio. Ex conatibus Geographicis Abrah. Ortely.
  • Galliae Veteris Typus. Ex conatibus Geographicis Abrah. Ortelij.
  • Gallia Vetus, Ad Iulij Caesaris commentaria. ex Conatibus geographicis Abrah. Ortelij. 1590.
  • Belgii Veteris Typus. Ex Conatibus Geographicis Abrahami Ortelii.
  • Germaniae Veteris typus. Ex conatibus geographicis Abrahami Ortelij.
  • Ordines Sacri Romani Imp. ab Ottone III Instituti
  • Nomina 4 Comitum et Militum Imperij superius ...
  • Pannoniae, Et Illyrici Veteris Tabula. Ex conatibus geographicis Abrahami Ortelij ...
  • Italiae Veteris Specimen.
  • Italia Gallica, Sive Gallia Cisalpina. Ex conatibus Geographicis Abrah. Ortelij.
  • Tusciae Antiquae Typus. Ex Conatibus Geographicis Ab. Ortelij.
  • Latium. Ex Conatibus Geographicis Abrah. Ortelij Antverp.
  • Itala nam Tellus Graecia Maior erat. Ovid. 4 Fast.
  • Siciliae Veteris Typus. Ex Conatibus geographicis Ab. Ortelij.
  • Daciarum, Moesiarumque, vetus descriptio.
  • Pontus Euxinus. Aequor Iasonis Pulsatum Remige Primum.
  • Thraciae Veteris Typus. Ex conatibus Geographicis Abrah. Ortelij.
  • Ellas. Graecia Sophiani. Abrahamo Ortelio descriptore.
  • Insular. aliquot Aegaei Maris Antiqua Descrip.
  • Creta Iovis Magni, Medio Iacet Insula Ponto. Corsica Insulae Maris Ionii. Sardinia.
  • Africae Propriae Tabula, in qua, Punica Regna Vides; Tyrios, et Agenoris Urbem.
  • Aegyptus Antiqua. Terra suis contenta bonis, non indiga mercis Aut Iois, in solo tanta ...
  • Alexandri Magni Macedonis Expeditio.
  • Aeneae Troiani Navigatio ad Virgilij Sex Priores Aeneidos.
  • Erythraei sive Rubri Maris Periplus.
  • Argonautica.
  • Tabula Itineraria ex Illustri Peutingerorum... / ... Segmentum Primum / Segmentum Secundum
  • Tabulae Itinerariae Antiquae Segmentum Tertium / Segmentum Quartum
  • Tabulae Itinerariae Antiquae Segmentum Quintum / Segmentum Sextum
  • Tabulae Itinerariae Antiquae Segmentum Septimum / Segmentum Octavum
  • Tempe.
  • Daphne.
  • Scenographia Totius Fabricae S. Laurentii in Escuriaco.
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