Imago Mundi: Babylonian Map of The World
A bit before the time Anaximander was conceptualizing his idea of a spheric world floating in space, some other bloke, possibly the son of Iṣṣuru the descendant of Ea-bēl-ilī was busy turning stones into documents in the humble hood of Mesopotamia. Little did their sophisticated, parchment-inking, perhaps condescending, Greek neighbours know, this map actually stood the test of time.
Source: By British Museum. Object Number: 92687., Public Domain
It consists of three parts
The map → circular, engraved onto a clay tablet
Text above the map → written cuneiform script, this one seems to be documenting the creation of the world by Marduk who is a patron god of Babylon. According to the legend, he split the primordial Ocean and thus created the Land and the Sea.
Text on the other side → looks like a description of the outer nagu — the (possibly) semi-mythical outer regions.
The Babylonian Map of the World, also known as the Imago Mundi, is an ancient clay tablet dug up on the East bank of the Euphrates river in the 19th century by (surprise, surprise) the British. What is quite interesting about this map is that it provides a glimpse into Babylonian perception of the world, which compared to the Greek is laced with a drop of mythology just to explain the inexplicable.
The map shows Babylon at its center, surrounded by a circular landmass encompassing known cities and regions of the time. Beyond this circular continent lies a ring of water, labeled as the "Bitter River," likely representing the salty seas known to the Babylonians. The map also includes seven islands or regions beyond this water, possibly representing distant, semi-mythical lands. Semi-mythical possibly because they had been described and perhaps even sighted but not completely explored and understood in their full extent.
Despite its age and seemingly simplistic design, the Babylonian Map of the World is considered one of the earliest known attempts at mapping the entire world. It stands as a testament to the advanced geographical knowledge and cosmic understanding of the Babylonian civilization.
Key Facts
Created around 600 BCE in Babylon (modern-day Iraq)
Made of clay and measures about 12 cm × 8 cm
Currently preserved in the British Museum, London
Depicts Babylon at the center of a circular world
Shows both real locations and mythological places
Includes a ring of water surrounding the main landmass
Features seven outer regions or islands beyond the "Bitter River"
Considered one of the oldest known world maps
Combines geographical knowledge with religious and mythological beliefs
Locations and Descriptions
Babylon: The central city, placed at the heart of the map
Assyria: A prominent region shown on the map
Zagros Mountains: A mountain range accurately depicted
Bitter River: The circular body of water surrounding the main landmass, likely representing known seas
Seven outer regions/islands: Mysterious lands beyond the Bitter River, possibly representing distant or mythical places
Urartu: An ancient kingdom in the Armenian Highlands
Der: An ancient city in Mesopotamia
Habban: Another city or region depicted on the map
Bit Yakin: A tribal territory in southern Mesopotamia
Euphrates River: One of the major rivers of Mesopotamia, shown on the map
