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Israel map in 1759 as imagined of the 12 tribes

A German map maker company depicted Israel of Old Testament Bible times. It shows the lands of the 12 tribes of Israel. It does not represent accurately who controlled the land in 1759. Further below is a map in 1753 representing Ottoman Empire control of this area. Creator of map is Lotter, Tobias Conrad, 1717-1777. Publication Date 1759.


Israel during the Reign of Kings and the Twelve Tribes


Terra Sancta sive Palæstina exhibens non solum Regna vetera Iuda et Israel in suas XII Tribus distincta, sed etiam eorundem diversarum ætatum conditionem et facta in Sacris Paginis indicata=


Translation:

The Holy Land or 'Palestine, showing not only the Old Kingdoms of Judea and Israel but also the 12 Tribes distinctly, confirming their locations diversely in their ancient condition and doing so as the Holy Scriptures indicate.


You will see Aug. Vindel showing place of origin of the creator of this map. That Aug. Vindel is short for Augusta Vindelicorum which is now Augsburg in Bavaria, southern Germany.


In 1759 there was no unified Germany. Augusta Vindelicorum was independent nation state loosely part of what was the Holy Roman Empire.


Archaeologists have identified 17 sites with remains of Augusta Vindelicorum, chiefly during the reconstruction of Augsburg after WWII. They show that the town had a small fortress, a forum, baths, temples, drains, etc, but they are not visible on an ordinary basis, apart from some wall foundations near the Cathedral.




Description Decorative map of the Holy Land, with title cartouche showing a lady holding Tablets of the Law, and Joshua holding a flag with names of the Tribes, and a small elaborate allegorical cartouche map of the Exodus at the bottom right. The map shows area divisions among the Tribes on both sides of Jordan and into Kingdoms of Judah and Israel, and notes towns, roads, mountains, rivers, etc, based upon Biblical teachings.


The publisher of the map, Tobias Conrad Lotter, married Matthäus Seutter's (another prominent German cartographer) daughter in 1740 and succeeded him in 1756. He became one of the most prominent mid 18th century map publishers working in the German school. Lotter used the copperplate of Seutter, he only changed the name.


Sources for map:





1750 map of biblical Israel



Ottoman control of area in 1759

Enlargement




Source of Ottoman Control map





Ottoman adminstrative districts controlling Israel


Source



Just before WWI


Source






Source


Compiled by Jim Moyer in October and November 2023, updated 11/11/23, 11/15/23


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