Porcacchi, Tomasso
1576

Island of Candia (Crete) in Greece

Descrittione dell'isola di Candia.

DESCRIPTION: Very interesting early antique map of the Greek Mediterranean island of Candia (Crete or Kriti), the largest island in Greece. This late 16th century map, by Tomasso Porcacchi, shows some of the largest towns on the island at that time: Cania (Chania), Retimo (Rethimno), and Candia (Iraklio). Numeous small islands and islets are named offshore including Morena, Farioni, Paxmando, and Standia. In the stippled sea, empty space is filled with fanciful sea creatures, huge sea snails, crabs, and a three-masted galleon.

At the center of the map is a cicular design of a maze south of the town of Candia (Iraklio or Heraklion). That maze is a reference to the labyrinth of King Minos of Crete that was believed to be located at the palace at Knossos. Since classical times that site was believed to be the location where Daedalus built the labyrinth for King Minos to hold the mythical Minotaur.

The entrance to three caves is depicted near the southwest coast in the general vicinity of the well-known Samaria Gorge. At that spot Porcacchi has noted: "Habitation d' homini e bestiami nelle chuerne" or the dwelling of men and cattle in ?chuerne.

Printed in Tomasso Porcacchi's "Isolario" or island book "L'Isol Piu Famose Del Mondo". That work contains a number of finely engraved maps of islands and the continents at a reduced scale. Porcacchi (1530-1585) was born in Tuscany to a poor family and first settled in Florence. He wrote about history, geography, and archaeology and later published the Isolario from Venice, Italy in three editions beginning in 1572. Page 108.

CREATOR: Porcacchi, Tomasso

PUBLICATION DATE: 1576

GEOGRAPHIC AREA: Greece

BODY OF WATER: Mediterranean Sea

CONDITION: Very good. On a full page with Italian text on both the recto and verso. Clean with a touch of age-toning.

COLORING: None

ENGRAVER: Girolamo Porro

SIZE: 5 " x 5 "

ITEM PHYSICAL LOCATION: 2

PRICE: $275

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