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1784 Bocage Map of Plato's Academy, Athens, Ancient Greece

Academy-bocage-1791
$87.50
Plan de l'Academie et de ses Environs Pour le Voyage du Jeune Anacharsis. - Main View
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1784 Bocage Map of Plato's Academy, Athens, Ancient Greece

Academy-bocage-1791


Title


Plan de l'Academie et de ses Environs Pour le Voyage du Jeune Anacharsis.
  1784 (dated)     9 x 7 in (22.86 x 17.78 cm)

Description


This is a fascinating 1784 plan of Plato's Academy in Athens, ancient Greece. The map covers the vicinity of the Platonic seat of learning in ancient Athens. Founded by the philosopher Plato, the Academy nurtured the genius of Aristotle, among others. Prepared by M. Barbie de Bocage in 1784 to illustrate the Travels of Anacharsis.

Anacharsis was a Scythian philosopher who travelled from his homeland on the northern shores of the Black Sea to Athens in the early 6th century BCe. Apparently he made a great impression on the Greeks, who considered him a forthright, outspoken 'barbarian. He is considered a forerunner of the Cynics.

Cartographer


Jean Denis Barbie du Bocage (1760 - 1825) and his son Jean-Guillaume Barbie du Bocage (1795 - 1848) were French cartographers and cosmographers active in Paris during late 18th and early 19th centuries. The elder Barbie du Bocage, Jean Denis, was trained as a cartographer and engraver in the workshops of mapmaking legend J. B. B. d'Anville. At some point Jean Denis held the post of Royal Librarian of France and it was through is associations with d'Anville that the d'Anville collection of nearly 9000 maps was acquired by French Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The younger Barbie du Bocage, Jean-Guillaume, acquired a position shortly afterwards at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and, in time, became its head, with the title of Geographe du Ministere des Affaires Etrangeres. More by this mapmaker...

Source


Barbie du Bocage, J. D., Recueil de Cartes Geographiques Plans, Vues, et Medailles de l'Ancienne Grece, Reelatifs au Voyage du Jeune Anacharsis., (Paris, Chez Sanson et Compagnie), 1791.    

Condition


Very good. Original platemark visible. Blank on verso. Dark clean impression.