fbpx
Wikipedia

Turin Papyrus Map

October 27, 2023

The Turin Papyrus Map is an ancient Egyptian map, generally considered the oldest surviving map of topographical interest from the ancient world. It is drawn on a papyrus reportedly discovered at Deir el-Medina in Thebes, collected by Bernardino Drovetti (known as Napoleon's Proconsul) in Egypt sometime before 1824 AD and now preserved in Turin's Museo Egizio. The map was drawn about 1150 BC by the well-known Scribe-of-the-Tomb Amennakhte, son of Ipuy. It was prepared for Ramesses IV's quarrying expedition to the Wadi Hammamat in the Eastern Desert, which exposes Precambrian rocks of the Arabian-Nubian Shield. The purpose of the expedition was to obtain blocks of bekhen-stone (metagraywacke sandstone) to be used for statues of the king.

Description edit

The map shows a 15-kilometre stretch of Wadi Hammamat and has depictions of this wadi's confluence with wadis Atalla and el-Sid, the surrounding hills, the bekhen-stone quarry, and the gold mine and settlement at Bir Umm Fawakhir. It also includes numerous annotations (written in the hieratic script) identifying the features shown on the map, the destinations of the wadi routes, the distance between the quarry and mine, the location of gold deposits in the hills, and the sizes of the bekhen-stone blocks quarried. The top of the map is toward the south and the source of the Nile River. As currently reconstructed in the Turin Museum, the map measures 2.8 m long by 0.41 m wide. This arrangement of the map fragments is currently considered incorrect however. A new and more accurate reconstruction was proposed by Harrell and Brown in 1992, leading to a reduced length of 2.1 m.[1][2][3]

Besides being a topographic map of surprisingly modern aspect, the Turin Papyrus is also a geological map (the earliest known) because it accurately shows the local distribution of different rock types (with black and pink hills), the lithologically diverse wadi gravels (with brown, green and white dots), and it contains information on quarrying and mining. The draughtsman clearly and carefully distributed distinctive features in accordance with the reality of a particular area, adding clarity by the use of legends and contrasting colors. In this respect, the Turin Papyrus may be regarded as the earliest known Geographic Information System.[4][5]

The location of the map on the ground has been identified and has been shown to be accurate.

The verso of the papyrus is inscribed with unrelated texts, in particular a letter addressed directly to Ramesses VI and pertaining to a cult statue of his setup in the temple of Hathor in Deir el-Medina. The letter asks that a certain man be put in charge of the daily offerings presented to the statue of the king. The request seems to have been granted as the grandson of the author still held the title of "High Priest of Ramesses VI".[6]

The map in origami history edit

Among origami (paper folding) enthusiasts, the map has been considered as the earliest known example of folding. According to origami historian David Lister, the map was mentioned by Profs. Koryo Miura (inventor of the Miura fold) and Masamori Sakamaki, from the University of Tokyo, in a meeting of the International Cartographic Association in 1980 as an example of early map folding.[7] However, the vertical creases on the papyrus may not be folding marks, as believed by Miura and Sakamaki. Harrell notes that "The map was rolled up when discovered and subsequently handled, and this explains the especially poor preservation of the rightmost portion in Figure 3, which formed the outer abraded surface of the scroll.".[4]

See also edit

References edit

  1. ^ Harrell, J.A. and V.M. Brown, 1992a, "The world's oldest surviving geological map – the 1150 BC Turin papyrus from Egypt", Journal of Geology 100 (1992), pp.3–18.
  2. ^ Harrell, J.A. and V.M. Brown, 1992b, "The oldest surviving topographical map from ancient Egypt (Turin Papyri 1879, 1899 and 1969)", Journal of the American Research Center in Egypt 29 (1992), pp.81–105.
  3. ^ Klemm, Rosemarie; Klemm, Dietrich (2013). Gold and Gold Mining in Ancient Egypt and Nubia. Heidelberg: Springer. pp. 132–136, 144. ISBN 9783642225079.
  4. ^ a b Harrell, James A. "Turin Papyrus Map from Ancient Egypt", Research on the Archaeological Geology of Ancient Egypt, Accessed Feb 24, 2018, http://www.eeescience.utoledo.edu/Faculty/Harrell/Egypt/Turin%20Papyrus/Harrell_Papyrus_Map_text.htm.
  5. ^ McMahon, David M., "The Turin Papyrus Map The Oldest Known Map with Geological Significance", Earth Sciences History 11 no. 1 (1992): 9–12.
    • Carmeni, U., "La Mappa delle Miniere del Museo Egizio di Torino. Come entrare nel suo spazio e come interpretarlo", conference edited by A.C.M.E., Torino, 2013
  6. ^ Hovestreydt, Willem (1997). "A Letter to the King Relating to the Foundation of a Statue (P. Turin 1879 vso.)". Lingua Aegyptia. Hamburg: Widmaier Verlag. 5: 107–121.
  7. ^ Lister, David (2005). "An Ancient Egyptian Map". The Lister List. British Origami Society. Retrieved July 19, 2015.

External links edit

  • Prof. Harrell's description of Turin Papyrus, with figures
  • Turin Museum
  • Mining in Ancient Egypt
  • Ancient maps

October 27, 2023
turin, papyrus, ancient, egyptian, generally, considered, oldest, surviving, topographical, interest, from, ancient, world, drawn, papyrus, reportedly, discovered, deir, medina, thebes, collected, bernardino, drovetti, known, napoleon, proconsul, egypt, someti. The Turin Papyrus Map is an ancient Egyptian map generally considered the oldest surviving map of topographical interest from the ancient world It is drawn on a papyrus reportedly discovered at Deir el Medina in Thebes collected by Bernardino Drovetti known as Napoleon s Proconsul in Egypt sometime before 1824 AD and now preserved in Turin s Museo Egizio The map was drawn about 1150 BC by the well known Scribe of the Tomb Amennakhte son of Ipuy It was prepared for Ramesses IV s quarrying expedition to the Wadi Hammamat in the Eastern Desert which exposes Precambrian rocks of the Arabian Nubian Shield The purpose of the expedition was to obtain blocks of bekhen stone metagraywacke sandstone to be used for statues of the king Contents 1 Description 2 The map in origami history 3 See also 4 References 5 External linksDescription editThe map shows a 15 kilometre stretch of Wadi Hammamat and has depictions of this wadi s confluence with wadis Atalla and el Sid the surrounding hills the bekhen stone quarry and the gold mine and settlement at Bir Umm Fawakhir It also includes numerous annotations written in the hieratic script identifying the features shown on the map the destinations of the wadi routes the distance between the quarry and mine the location of gold deposits in the hills and the sizes of the bekhen stone blocks quarried The top of the map is toward the south and the source of the Nile River As currently reconstructed in the Turin Museum the map measures 2 8 m long by 0 41 m wide This arrangement of the map fragments is currently considered incorrect however A new and more accurate reconstruction was proposed by Harrell and Brown in 1992 leading to a reduced length of 2 1 m 1 2 3 Besides being a topographic map of surprisingly modern aspect the Turin Papyrus is also a geological map the earliest known because it accurately shows the local distribution of different rock types with black and pink hills the lithologically diverse wadi gravels with brown green and white dots and it contains information on quarrying and mining The draughtsman clearly and carefully distributed distinctive features in accordance with the reality of a particular area adding clarity by the use of legends and contrasting colors In this respect the Turin Papyrus may be regarded as the earliest known Geographic Information System 4 5 The location of the map on the ground has been identified and has been shown to be accurate The verso of the papyrus is inscribed with unrelated texts in particular a letter addressed directly to Ramesses VI and pertaining to a cult statue of his setup in the temple of Hathor in Deir el Medina The letter asks that a certain man be put in charge of the daily offerings presented to the statue of the king The request seems to have been granted as the grandson of the author still held the title of High Priest of Ramesses VI 6 The map in origami history editAmong origami paper folding enthusiasts the map has been considered as the earliest known example of folding According to origami historian David Lister the map was mentioned by Profs Koryo Miura inventor of the Miura fold and Masamori Sakamaki from the University of Tokyo in a meeting of the International Cartographic Association in 1980 as an example of early map folding 7 However the vertical creases on the papyrus may not be folding marks as believed by Miura and Sakamaki Harrell notes that The map was rolled up when discovered and subsequently handled and this explains the especially poor preservation of the rightmost portion in Figure 3 which formed the outer abraded surface of the scroll 4 See also editList of ancient Egyptian papyriReferences edit Harrell J A and V M Brown 1992a The world s oldest surviving geological map the 1150 BC Turin papyrus from Egypt Journal of Geology 100 1992 pp 3 18 Harrell J A and V M Brown 1992b The oldest surviving topographical map from ancient Egypt Turin Papyri 1879 1899 and 1969 Journal of the American Research Center in Egypt 29 1992 pp 81 105 Klemm Rosemarie Klemm Dietrich 2013 Gold and Gold Mining in Ancient Egypt and Nubia Heidelberg Springer pp 132 136 144 ISBN 9783642225079 a b Harrell James A Turin Papyrus Map from Ancient Egypt Research on the Archaeological Geology of Ancient Egypt Accessed Feb 24 2018 http www eeescience utoledo edu Faculty Harrell Egypt Turin 20Papyrus Harrell Papyrus Map text htm McMahon David M The Turin Papyrus Map The Oldest Known Map with Geological Significance Earth Sciences History 11 no 1 1992 9 12 Carmeni U La Mappa delle Miniere del Museo Egizio di Torino Come entrare nel suo spazio e come interpretarlo conference edited by A C M E Torino 2013 Hovestreydt Willem 1997 A Letter to the King Relating to the Foundation of a Statue P Turin 1879 vso Lingua Aegyptia Hamburg Widmaier Verlag 5 107 121 Lister David 2005 An Ancient Egyptian Map The Lister List British Origami Society Retrieved July 19 2015 External links editProf Harrell s description of Turin Papyrus with figures Turin Museum Mining in Ancient Egypt Ancient maps Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Turin Papyrus Map amp oldid 1164051911, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

article

, read, download, free, free download, mp3, video, mp4, 3gp, jpg, jpeg, gif, png, picture, music, song, movie, book, game, games.