The Babylonian World Map, also known as the Imago Mundi, is one of the oldest known representations of our world. This ancient map offers a fascinating glimpse into the geographical knowledge and worldview of the Babylonians over two and a half millennia ago as well as their expertise as craftsmen. In this article, we will look at the discovery of the map, its creation, materials, authorship, similar maps, what it depicts, its accuracies and inaccuracies, its impact and legacy, and its current location.
Discovery and Background
The Map was discovered during archaeological excavations in the ruins of the city of Sippar in the late 19th century. Sippar was one of the oldest cities in Mesopotamia with origins dating back as far as 2900 BC. It was found on the eastern banks of the Euphrates close to Baghdad in modern day Iraq. Sippar was a significant urban center with a population of up to 40,000 inhabitants, comparable in size with other cities such as Ur and Uruk. It was known for its temple dedicated to the sun god Shamash. Given its location on the Euphrates, it was also an important trading outpost.
Creation and Materials
The exact date of the map’s creation is not well-documented, but it has been estimated at no earlier than the 9th century BC. It was part of a series of finds that provided substantial insights into ancient Mesopotamian civilization.
The map was created during the Neo-Babylonian period. It is inscribed on a clay tablet using the now extinct Cuneiform Akkadian language, a writing system developed in the city of Akkad, and used across Mesopotamian. The tablet measures approximately 12.2 cm by 8.2 cm, with a generally better preserved upper half, the lower extremities having been lost.
The clay tablet was likely produced by a Babylonian scribe. Although the identity of the scribe remains unknown, there are some clues in the text contained on the front of the tablet. This map is part of a larger tradition of Mesopotamian cartography and geographical texts, reflecting the intellectual and scholarly pursuits of the time. The use of clay tablets was common in Mesopotamia due to the abundance of clay in the region and the durability of baked tablets.
What does the map actually depict?
The map is divided into three sections. On the front, the pictorial representation, the map itself, is found on the lower two thirds of the front of the tablet. The upper third is text. On the rear of the tablet is also text. The structure and information of each section differs greatly, implying that the three sections may have been compiled from three different and possibly unrelated original sources.
The first thing to notice of the map section are the two circles that cover more than half of the map portion. They are labeled ‘Maratum’ which literally translates as ‘Bitter River’. It is thought that this represents the Persian Gulf. The label refers to the salt sea. The Persian gulf was over 500km from Sippar.
Inside the circles, there are 7 additional smaller circles, which are thought to represent 7 cities, with Babylon being represented in the center at the top. The parallel lines at the bottom of the map represent marshland, which could be the current day Iraq Central marshes, Hammar marshes or Hawizeh marshes. A line in the north east corner of the map appears to be the modern day Zargos Mountain range, which runs from south east Turkey, down the eastern border of Iraq and onwards into western Iran as far south as the strait of Hormuz. All of the labeling and annotation on the inside of the circles is in Cuneiform. Seven or eight triangular sections outside the water circle represent named “regions” (nagu). The descriptions for five of them have survived. The map indicates features spread across much of eastern Iraq, an area of many hundreds of thousands of square kilometers.
The text above the map describes the creation of the land and sea by Marduk, the patron saint of Babylon. It is written that he parted the primeval ocean, called Tiamat, thus raising dry land.
The next few lines refer to at least 15 animals, the Mountain Goat, Gazelle, Lion, Wolf, Monkey (and female Monkey), Ostrich, Cat and Chameleon. Other than the Cat, none of the animals listed were to be found in ancient mesopotamia. The last two lines of the text refer to three legendary heroes: Utnapištim (the hero of the Flood), Sargon (ruler of Akkad), and Nur-Dagan the King of Buršaḫanda (opponent of Sargon).
The back side contains at least 29 lines of text and seems to be a description of the nagu, or regions of ancient Mesopotamia. It is assumed that the nagu listed on the rear are the same nagu as depicted on the front. After an introduction, possibly explaining how to identify the first nagu, the pattern for the remaining descriptions is to list the nagu by number, and state the distance in leagues that one must travel to get there from the previous nagu. The distances listed on the rear do not seem to correspond to any scale depicted on the front. This could be because such scale drawings were not helpful when journeys were measured in days or weeks. It could more simply be that the rear of the tablet is referring to a different set of nagu than those represented on the front of the map.
A short description is given for each of the eight nagu, but those of the first, second, and sixth are too damaged to read. The fifth nagu has the longest description, but this too is damaged and partially unreadable.
There are some rather strange pieces of information that the author though to include, such as:
‘The third nagu may be a barren desert, impassable even for birds: A winged bird cannot safely complete its journey.’ This, in a country virtually entirely composed of desert.
The description of the fourth nagu is ‘In the fourth nagu objects are found of remarkable dimensions’ the actual dimensions and objects are unspecified – it could mean the length or width, or could mean portals to other worlds. We will never know.
The eighth nagu may refer to a supposed heavenly gate in the east where the Sun enters as it rises in the morning.
… the place where [incomprehensible word] dawns at its entrance.
The conclusion of the rear of the tablet states that the map is a birds eye depiction, implying that relative directions between cities and nagu may be accurate even if distances are not. It also seems to recognise that the map is incomplete with reference to further nagu ‘that extend infinitely far’.
The final two lines state that the tablet was copied from its old exemplar, giving further evidence that the rear of the tablet may not be related to the front and certainly comes from older source material. It finally states that the tablets were collated by our mysterious author. The son of Issuru, the descendent of Ea-Bel-il, There is no historical evidence thus far as to who this person may be.
Historical Context
Understanding the historical and cultural context of the Babylonian World Map is essential for appreciating its significance. The Neo-Babylonian period was marked by significant achievements in science, literature, and the arts. Under the rule of Nebuchadnezzar II, Babylon became one of the most magnificent cities of the ancient world, renowned for its impressive architecture, including the Hanging Gardens, one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World.
The creation of the Babylonian World Map during this period reflects the Babylonians’ sophisticated understanding of geography and their desire to document and communicate their knowledge. The map served not only as a geographical tool but also as a symbol of Babylon’s central place in the world and its cultural and intellectual achievements.
The Babylonian World Map is one of several ancient maps from the region, but it is unique in its detailed depiction and symbolic representation. Other notable ancient maps include:
The Nuzi Map was an earlier map dating back to the 2nd millennium BCE, found in Nuzi (modern-day Iraq). It is a land map depicting a specific region rather than a world map. The Nuzi Map is one of the oldest known maps and provides valuable insights into early Mesopotamian cartography.
The Nippur Map is another significant map from ancient Mesopotamia, showing the city of Nippur and its surroundings. This map, like the Babylonian World Map, emphasizes the importance of a central city and its religious significance.
The Gasur Map was discovered in the ancient city of Gasur, this map is an early example of a surveyor’s map. It shows a section of the landscape, including fields and canals, with detailed annotation.
Mythology in Babylonian Cartography
Mythology played a significant role in shaping the Babylonians’ worldview and their cartographic representations. The very first lines of text on the front of the tablet refer to the Anzu-bird, a creature that was half eagle and half lion, and Aqrabualmelu, or scorpion-map. These were well known mythical creatures in ancient Mesopotamia.The inclusion of mythical regions and creatures on the Babylonian World Map reflects the Babylonians’ belief in a world that extended beyond the known and the observable.
The map’s depiction of the world as a flat disk surrounded by a river or sea aligns with Mesopotamian cosmology, which envisioned the earth as a flat surface floating on primordial waters. This cosmological view influenced not only cartography but also literature, art, and religious practices. By incorporating these mythological elements, the Babylonian World Map serves as a valuable artifact for understanding the intersection of geography, mythology, and cultural identity in ancient Mesopotamia.
What the map gets right
The Babylonian World Map accurately depicts several key locations and geographical features known to the Babylonians. Babylon’s central placement reflects its historical and cultural significance as the heart of the Neo-Babylonian Empire. The map’s inclusion of regions such as Assyria and Elam aligns with historical records of these territories and their interactions with Babylon.
The depiction of the Euphrates River, flowing through Babylon, is another accurate representation. The river was a critical feature of Mesopotamian geography, providing water for agriculture, transportation, and trade. The map also accurately includes other important cities and regions known to the Babylonians, reflecting a reasonably comprehensive understanding of their immediate world.
What the map gets wrong
While the map contains accurate elements, it also includes several inaccuracies and mythological features. The map’s representation of the world as a flat disk surrounded by a river is not geographically accurate by modern standards. Additionally, the triangular shapes representing distant, mythical regions reflect a blend of fact and fiction rather than precise cartographic knowledge.
The scale and proportions of the map are also not accurate. Cities and regions are depicted in relation to their importance rather than their actual geographical size or distance. This symbolic approach to mapping was common in ancient cartography but differs significantly from modern mapping techniques. The mythical regions and creatures depicted on the map also highlight the limitations of contemporary knowledge and the influence of mythology on geographical understanding.
Impacts and Legacy
In the broader context of cartography, the Babylonian World Map is an important precursor to later maps from other ancient civilizations. It provides a foundation for understanding the evolution of mapping and geographical representation in the ancient world. The map’s combination of accurate geographical information and mythological elements illustrates the complex interplay between observation and imagination in early cartography.
Later civilizations, including the Greeks and Romans, built upon the foundations of Mesopotamian cartography, incorporating observational techniques and expanding the scope of geographical knowledge.
The map’s symbolic representation of the world as a flat disk surrounded by water influenced subsequent cartographic traditions. This conceptual framework persisted in various forms until the development of more accurate geographical models during the Renaissance. The Babylonian World Map’s blend of practical and mythological elements also foreshadowed the rich tradition of medieval mappa mundi, which similarly combined geographical information with religious and cultural symbolism.
Today, the Babylonian World Map is housed in the British Museum in London. The tablet is part of the museum’s extensive collection of Mesopotamian artifacts, which includes other cuneiform tablets, statues, and relics from ancient Iraq.
Final Thoughts
The Babylonian World Map, or Imago Mundi, is a remarkable artifact that provides a window into the geographical knowledge and worldview of the ancient Babylonians. Created around 900 BCE, the map reflects both accurate geographical information and mythological elements, illustrating the blend of fact and fiction in ancient cartography.
Discovered in Sippar and now housed in the British Museum, the map continues to be a valuable resource for understanding the history of cartography and the intellectual achievements of Mesopotamian civilization. As we study and appreciate this ancient map, we gain a deeper understanding of the ways in which early civilizations documented and communicated their knowledge of the world.
The Babylonian World Map stands as a symbol of the ingenuity and curiosity of ancient cartographers. It reminds us that the desire to understand and document the world around us is a timeless pursuit, one that has driven human progress for millennia. Through its preservation and study, the map continues to inform and inspire, connecting us to the rich heritage of our ancient ancestors and the enduring quest for knowledge and understanding.
