1782 Bocage Map of Hellespont, Ancient Greece

This is a fascinating 1782 map of the Hellespont (Dardanelles) in antiquity. Cartographically based on an earlier chart by D'Anville, Barbie de Bocage's map covers the narrow strait connecting the Aegean Sea and the Sea of Marmara. Referring to the account of the Greek historian Herodotus, Bocage identifies the 'Lieu ou Xerxes fit jetter un Pont' (place where Xerxes threw his bridge). According to The Histories, Xerxes, the Persian emperor, built two pontoon bridges, later known as Xerxes' Pontoon Bridges, at Abydos to cross the strait from Asia to Thrace. The strait is also mentioned in the mythological tale of Hero and Leander where Leander crossed the strait to his beloved Hero. Prepared by M. Barbie de Bocage in 1782 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.