Abraham Ortelius

Abraham Ortelius

Abraham Ortelius was a Flemish cartographer and geographer who lived during the 16th century. He was born in Antwerp in 1527 and was educated in Greek, Latin, and mathematics. Ortelius was a man of many talents and interests, and his work reflected his broad range of knowledge. He was not only a cartographer but also a merchant, book collector, and traveler. Ortelius was a member of the Antwerp Guild of Saint Luke, which was a society of artists and craftsmen. Ortelius’s most significant contribution to cartography was his work “Theatrum Orbis Terrarum,” which was published in 1570. The book is now regarded as the first modern atlas and was a groundbreaking achievement in the field of cartography. The atlas contained 53 maps, and each map was designed to be the same size and format, making it easy for users to compare and contrast different regions of the world. Ortelius’s meticulous attention to detail and accuracy in his maps ensured that his work was highly regarded by his contemporaries and has continued to be influential to this day. Ortelius was also renowned for his expertise in the field of ancient geography. He published several important works on the subject, including “Thesaurus Geographicus,” which was a collection of ancient maps and texts. Ortelius was particularly interested in the work of Ptolemy, a Greek geographer who lived in the 2nd century AD. Ortelius’s knowledge of ancient geography was an important influence on his work as a cartographer, as he was able to incorporate ancient knowledge into his maps. In addition to his work as a cartographer and geographer, Ortelius was also a successful merchant and book collector. He traveled extensively throughout Europe, and his travels provided him with a wealth of knowledge about different regions of the world. Ortelius was also a collector of books and maps, and his collection was one of the largest in Europe at the time of his death.

Abraham Ortelius, Flemish, cartographer, geographer, Theatrum Orbis Terrarum, ancient geography, Ptolemy, Thesaurus Geographicus, maps, book collector, merchant, Antwerp Guild of Saint Luke

— Paul Jackson