“Voyage Des Enfans D’Israel dans Le Desert Depuis sortie D’Egypte Par la Mer Rouge Insques au Pays De Canaan.” Hand-colored copperplate itinerarium map.

MORTIER, PIETER.

Amsterdam, 1705

Laor 507.

From: Mortier’s Atlas Antiquus, first edition, Amsterdam, 1705. Figuratively descriptive itinerarium map of the Wanderings of the Children of Israel with a depiction of the Sinai Desert showing the journeys of Moses and the Children of Israel from Egypt to the Holy Land. The detailed map displays numbered encampments tracking the Israelites’ route (also noting Biblical chapter and verse) from Rahmeses (1) to Pi Hachiroth (4) on the Red Sea, followed by the Jewish People crossing, while Pharoah’s soldiers are drowned in the Sea. The route to Canaan then meanders until Moses reaches Mt Sinai (12) and includes the scene of the Golden Calf (13) and Fiery Serpent (36). The wanderings continue to Kadesh-Barnea (33) where Moses struck the rock, ending at Mt. Nebo and Joshua’s military encampment at Gilgal (43). Pieter Mortier (1661–1711) was an 18th century mapmaker and engraver from the Northern Netherlands, proprietor of the map publishing company Covens & Mortier.