The Oldest Known Map in History: The Babylonian World Map! #shorts #babylonian #cartographie #map
#HistoryFacts #AncientBabylonians #WorldMap #OldestMap #BabylonianWorldMap #AncientCivilization #Archaeology #BritishMuseum #DidYouKnow
Did you know that the oldest known map of the world dates back to around **600 BCE**? It's called the **Babylonian World Map**, and it’s not just any ordinary map – it’s a remarkable glimpse into how ancient Babylonians imagined the world more than 2,500 years ago! 🗺️
This incredible map was etched onto a clay tablet and places **Babylon**, the heart of the Babylonian Empire, right in the center. Surrounding Babylon are other regions, cities, and even mythical places that reveal not only the geography of their time but also the blend of myth and reality in their worldview. What makes this map stand out is how it encapsulates both real locations and fantastic realms, showing the Babylonians' intricate blend of fact, faith, and imagination.
The map itself was **discovered in the ruins of Sippar**, an ancient city located in modern-day **Iraq**, during an archaeological excavation in the late 19th century. Sippar, an ancient Sumerian city, was not far from Babylon and was an important religious and cultural center. The artifact was found in fragments and was painstakingly reconstructed to reveal this treasure of ancient cartography. It now resides in the **British Museum**, where it continues to fascinate historians and enthusiasts alike.
The map, although small in size (about 12 cm across), has a lot of detail. The world is depicted as a flat disc surrounded by water, a representation known as the **“Bitter River”**, or **“Oceanus”**, according to Babylonian myth. This circular boundary defines the known world, with Babylon strategically positioned in the center, showing the city's significance at the time. The surrounding regions include cities like **Assyria** and **Urartu**, real places the Babylonians would have interacted with. But then, there are also mythical lands, labeled as regions filled with fantastic creatures and gods, highlighting the symbolic importance of the map.
More than just a geographical document, the **Babylonian World Map** shows the connection between ancient knowledge, myth, and religion. The Babylonians believed the world was a combination of known territories and divine or otherworldly realms, and this map is a clear reflection of that belief.
It’s astonishing to think that thousands of years ago, people were already trying to make sense of the world around them by mapping it. But this wasn’t just about physical geography; for them, it was about understanding their place in the cosmos, their city’s significance, and how they were connected to both their neighbors and their gods. 🌏✨
The Babylonian World Map remains one of the most significant ancient artifacts, giving us a glimpse into a culture where geography and myth intertwined. Next time you look at a modern map, just think – it all began here!
Sources:
The British Museum – The Babylonian World Map is housed here, and their collection page provides detailed information about its discovery and significance:
Ancient History Encyclopedia (now called World History Encyclopedia) – Provides a detailed overview of the Babylonian World Map, including its context within ancient
K. L. Scheil’s excavation reports – The Babylonian World Map was discovered during excavations in the 19th century, and reports from that time detail its unearthing in Sippar:
This information can be found in archaeology journals and specific excavation reports like those mentioned by K. L. Scheil.
Academic Papers on Babylonian Cartography – Scholars have written extensively on how the Babylonians viewed the world, incorporating both geography and mythology. For example:
Horowitz, Wayne. Mesopotamian Cosmic Geography. Eisenbrauns, 1998.
