The world's largest preserved portolan chart: the amazing precision of the famous Egyptian cartographer Iehuda ben Zara
Sea Map of Iehuda Ben Zara
Alexandria (Egypt) — 1497

Sea Map of Iehuda Ben Zara
Alexandria (Egypt) — 1497
The largest surviving portolan chart in the world originated ca. 1407 in Alexandria
The most famous Egyptian geographer of the Renaissance, Lehuda ben Zara, used high quality colors and gold leaf
The map shows the Mediterranean with precision that is still quite amazing today

Sea Map of Iehuda Ben Zara
The Egyptian Desert
Here in the lower-right corner we can see a tent and compass rose flanked by a camel carrying its rider off into the Sahara and an elephant making its way to cities on the shores of the Red Sea. It is the Egyptian desert to the south of the city. The Nile is shown flowing north to Alexandria where the map was created, alongside which a human head represents one of the classical compass winds. Artists often used margins and other open spaces to give an impression of local conditions.
Sea Map of Iehuda Ben Zara
- Sea Chart of Iehuda Ben Zara
- Seekarte des Iehuda ben Zara
Short Description
The Sea Map of Lehuda Ben Zara was produced in Alexandria in 1497. It is the largest surviving portolan chart in the world. Important nautical information was recorded here in various colors. The master adorned the highly valuable chart additionally with elements of gold leaf.
Sea Map of Lehuda Ben Zara
The term “portolan” originally indicates a book with nautical information such as landmarks, light houses, currents, and harbor conditions. The employment of this term is first documented in the year 1285. From the 16th century on, the meaning of this term was expanded and henceforth included not only the text of the work, but also the accompanying sea charts. Today the specialized sea charts denote a specific type as “portolan charts.” An example of this is the Sea Map of Lehuda Ben Zara. The colorful and gold-adorned chart** is one of the most valuable maps in the Vatican Library today.
A Masterwork of Nautical Science
The Sea Map of Lehuda Ben Zaraarose ca. 1497 and is the largest portolan chart still in existence. The rare chart was painted with the utmost precision on the skin of a single animal. It shows the world, as it was known by the educated of the Renaissance. A primary feature is the visible network of lines that aided maneuvering by means of a compass. Dangerous passages were highlighted by the chart and commented on with inscriptions like “Pay Attention!” or “Eyes Open!” The sea map bespeaks the high aptitude of the master, who worked unbelievably accurately and realistically without the aids and appliances of our modern technology.
High Quality Embellishment
Lehunde Ben Zara is probably the most famous Egyptian geographer of the Renaissance. He made his sea map in Alexandria, a cultural stronghold of Egypt. He employed high quality colors and gold leaf. Embarkation points are registered in various colors. Thus the commercial significance of the respective ports was indicated. The cardinal directions are recorded with black ink. He differentiated between various wind currents, which were drawn with the help of green and red lines. As a result he retained a traditional coloration that remained unchanged for many centuries.
Codicology
- Alternative Titles
- Sea Chart of Iehuda Ben Zara
Seekarte des Iehuda ben Zara - Type
- Map on parchment
- Size / Format
- 1 map / 92.5 × 67.0 cm
- Origin
- Alexandria (Egypt)
- Date
- 1497
- Epochs
- Style
- Genre
- Language
- Content
- Portolan map emphasizing the mediterranean area
- Artist / School
- Author: Iehuda ben Zara
1 available facsimile edition(s) of „Sea Map of Iehuda Ben Zara“
Seekarte des Iehuda ben Zara
- Publisher
- Belser Verlag – Zurich, 1983
- Commentary
-
1 volume by Arthur Dürst
Language: German - More Information
- Reproduction of the entire original document as detailed as possible (scope, format, colors). The binding may not correspond to the original or current document binding.
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