Armenia on Ancient Maps
The prevalence of historical revisionism by Turkey and Azerbaijan in attempting to rewrite their history and erase Armenian historical presence can often be attributed to geopolitical factors and the desire to assert national narratives. This phenomenon is particularly noticeable in light of evidence such as ancient maps where Armenia has been consistently indicated for thousands of years. These maps, spanning from Babylonian clay tablets dating back to the 6th century BC to works by renowned cartographers like Herodotus, Eratosthenes, and Claudius Ptolemy, affirm Armenia’s enduring presence and significance. The deliberate efforts to negate or distort historical truths underscore the importance of preserving and advocating for accurately representing Armenia’s rich cultural heritage and historical legacy.
“The deliberate efforts to erase Armenian history highlight the importance of preserving and advocating for an accurate representation of its cultural heritage.”
According to this well-researched article by Tigran Varag and the historian Rouben Galichian, Armenia is found in the World’s oldest maps and history books. Sometimes as an independent state and sometimes divided between neighboring empires, but nevertheless, the name Hayastan-Armenia has always been mentioned since ancient Greek and Roman maps this day. In this article, we will look at some of the ancient maps to give our readers an idea of Armenia’s position on the ancient maps of the World.
For those interested in more detail, I recommend reading Rouben Galichian’s 2005 work “Armenia in World Cartography” or a brief version called Historic Maps of Armenia, 2018.
1. Babylonian clay tablet, 6th century BC
The oldest extant map of the World is depicted on a clay tablet. It is the Babylonian map found in Iraq in the 19th century. Now, it is stored in the British Museum.
This Babylonian map of the World dates back to the 6th century BC. In ancient Assyrian and Babylonian sources, the kingdom of Ararat is referred to as Urartu. This name is mentioned on the World’s oldest map. Of the countries mentioned in this map, only Armenia still exists. All the others have disappeared from the world map.
According to cartographer Rouben Galichian, the map shows the World in the form of a circle surrounded by “bitter” waters, in which there are seven islands. In the center of the map is Babylon; next to it, Armenia and Assyria are depicted. Seven other cities are shown in small circles. From the mountains of Armenia, the Euphrates River flows through Babylon and Marshes and reaches the Persian Gulf.
On the back of the tile, a text describes seven islands in the sea and unusual creatures living there. The islands are depicted as triangles, most of which are damaged and illegible.
“Ancient maps, from Babylonian clay tablets to Ptolemy’s works, consistently depict Armenia, affirming its enduring presence and significance.”
2. Herodotus, 5th century BC
The World, according to Herodotus, edited by Charles Muller and published in Smith’s Atlas, places Armenia in a central position among the countries that existed at that time.
3. Eratosthenes, 3–2 century BC
This 2,300-year-old map of Eratosthenes was reconstructed by German cartographer von Spruner (1855).
4. Strabo, 1st century BC
Based on Strabo’s work, British cartographer John Murray reconstructed the world map, one of the chapters dedicated to the geography of Armenia.
5. Claudius Ptolemy, 2nd century
Famous Greek geographer and cosmologist Claudius Ptolemy was the most prominent cartographer in the Ancient World. His most important work is the eight-volume Geography. The text about Armenia in this work is in the fifth volume.
This Claudius Ptolemy (2nd century) map was designed by Martin Waldseemüller and issued by Schott in 1513 at the British Museum, London is a map of the World, surrounded by winds and divided into climate zones. Besides the Red Sea, all the seas are blue, and the mountains are green. Greater Armenia and Lesser Armenia are located between the Black and Caspian Seas.
6. Claudius Ptolemy, 2nd century
The center of the map in white is the Greater Armenia (Armenia Maior), which borders Media in the east, Assyria in the south, Lesser Armenia in the west (Armenia Minor), and Colchis (Abkhazia), Iberia (Virk), Albania in the north.
7. Countries occupied by Alexander the Great
This map is one of the pages of the Atlas published in Latin in Amsterdam. It represents Alexander the Great’s invasion of India and shows Greater Armenia.
8. Map of the Holy Land or the “Earthly Paradise”
The map covers the area between the Mediterranean Sea and the Persian Gulf and the prominent Eden, located near the city of Babel (Babylon). The beautifully decorated title is surrounded by pictures of scenes of Eden on both sides. The map itself is stunningly created, with the combination of real and biblical geography. Here, you will find the Land of Nod, the Garden of Eden, the Tower of Babel, and other semi-mythical places. The map was drawn by Visscher as a part of a five-part series of maps to be included in Abraham Van den Brock’s Bible written in 1657. This is the first edition of this important series of maps that formed the basis of many other Bible maps that appeared in the 18th century.
9. Map of the Terrestrial Paradise
This map was drawn by English cartographer Emanuel Bowen. It is also based on religious beliefs. The Terrestrial Paradise, Eden, is shown on the territory of Armenia, between the lakes Van and Kaputan. The map lists four rivers flowing from the Bible Paradise: Aras (Gihon), Pishon, Euphrates and Tigris. At the center of the map is Mount Ararat.
10. The map of Armenia according to old and new geographers
This map of Armenia was published in Venice in the 18th century. Many cartographers and geographers consider this map to be a replacement for the missing map of Shirakatsi’s “Geography” (“Ashkharhatsuyts”).
“Armenia has been a constant fixture on world maps for thousands of years, as evidenced by renowned cartographers and historical records.”
In conclusion, Armenia’s enduring presence on ancient maps is a testament to its rich historical and cultural significance. Despite Turkey and Azerbaijan’s relentless efforts to revise and rewrite history for geopolitical gains, the evidence provided by cartographers from Babylon to Ptolemy presents an irrefutable narrative. The ancient maps, spanning thousands of years, demonstrate that Armenia has always been a notable entity in the World, whether as an independent state or a region within larger empires.
These historical artifacts are more than mere illustrations; they are vital records that challenge contemporary narratives that distort Armenia’s past. They emphasize the importance of preserving and advocating for accurately representing Armenia’s heritage. As scholars and historians like Tigran Varag and Rouben Galichian continue to bring these ancient maps and their stories to light, they help safeguard Armenia’s historical legacy for future generations. Through their research and dedication, we are reminded that history, anchored in evidence, will always prevail over attempts at revisionism. To delve deeper into this fascinating history and appreciate the role Armenia has played through the ages, works like “Armenia in World Cartography” are invaluable resources that offer a window into the ancient World and Armenia’s enduring place within it.
Article by Tigran Varag. Source: Rouben Galichian’s personal collection
Special thanks to cartographer Rouben Galichian for providing the maps.
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