
Wayfinding, mapmaking and military strategy.
Human figures were added to protect military secrets as the Turkish religion forbade looking at human representations.
This map is from Civitates Orbis Terrarum, a city atlas begun in 1572. Edited by George Braun and engraved by Franz Hogenberg.
Along with the bird’s eye views of various European cities, this map depicts unusual representations of daily life. Braun added figures wearing traditional local costumes to shield its content from the Turks, who are barred from viewing images of humans.
Courtesy of Warren N. Baggett, Rare Prints Gallery ©2003

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