1707 Lucas Map of the Nile from Cairo to Aswan

Exploring Upper Egypt.

This is Paul Lucas' 1707 map of the Nile between Cairo and Aswan, which appeared in his book Reise nach der Levante. This was the German translation of Lucas' account of his travels, originally written in French, and notably contained this map, one of the earliest accurate European depictions of the Upper Nile.

A Closer Look

The map is oriented towards the south, with Cairo at bottom and the Cataracts of the Nile near Aswan at top. Settlements and other features are traced all along the course of the river, including pyramids ('mummy crypts,' Mümien Gruften), a column 'resembling that of Pompei,' ruins, temples, and convents. The settlements and other landmarks are often followed by a brief description, such as Beedi 'where Turks cannot live' (wo kein Turck wohen kan) or nearby Melue 'a lovely city' (eine schöne Stadt). Coming from a Christian country and having traveled widely in the Levant and Mediterranean, Lucas is particularly attuned to the presence of Coptic Christians, Arabs, and Turks along the river.

Lucas' Trip to the Upper Nile

In his 1704 work Voyage du Sieur Paul Lucas au Levant Lucas detailed his exploits as a royal antiquarian commissioned by Louis XIV to scour the Mediterranean for curiosities, including his journey into the Upper Nile. This stretch of his travels was particularly daring for the era, pushing beyond the relatively familiar confines of Cairo into the Thebaid, documenting the massive architectural remains at sites like Luxor (Thebes), Karnak, and Dendera. Lucas had a flair for the dramatic, weaving tales of desert perils, eccentric hermits, and supernatural encounters into his observations. Nevertheless, his accounts provided some of the first modern descriptions of Pharaonic ruins that had been largely lost to Western memory, effectively mapping a landscape that was, for most Europeans at the time, more myth than geography.

Publication History and Census

This map was originally prepared for the 1704 French edition of Lucas' book and here is printed in German for the 1707 translation, Reise nach der Levante. The map is not independently cataloged with any institution, while the entire German edition of the book appears at five institutions in the OCLC, all in Germany or Switzerland.

Cartographer

Paul Lucas (August 31, 1664 - May 12, 1737) was a French traveler, merchant, physician, and explorer who provided some of the earliest detailed European accounts of Upper Egypt. His father, Centurion Lucas, was a well-known publisher and printer in Rouen. pursued a military career and fought with the Venetians against the Ottomans at the Siege of Negroponte (Chalkis) in 1688. He returned from war with a collection of antiquities for the French Royal Cabinet that gained him enough attention for the court to finance three voyages to the Levant and Egypt in 1699-1703, 1704-1708, and 1714-1717. His accounts of these travels - Voyage du Sieur Paul Lucas au Levant. On y trouvera entr'autre une description de la haute Egypte…, Voyage du Sieur pPul Lucas, fait par ordre du Roi…, and Voyage du Sieur Paul Lucas, fait en 1714… - were translated into English and German, becoming important sources of information in Europe about the Levant and Egypt, particularly the Upper Nile. Lucas's first book contained a map of the Nile as far as Aswan and the Cataracts of the Nile. In fact, these accounts were largely written by court intellectuals connected to the antiquarian Charles César Baudelot de Dairval (1948 - 1722), basing their work on Lucas' travel accounts, as Lucas' lack of education led them to deem the journals unpublishable in their raw form. In any event, the accounts of Lucas' travels, including descriptions and drawing of the pyramids and other monuments, captivated learned audiences back in Europe, being the standard account of Upper Egypt for some years after. Already by 1708, Lucas had been granted the title of 'antiquaire du roi,' though his lack of formal education and deviation from the conventions of standard explorers' narratives cause some to question the veracity of his account. But time and subsequent explorations by Europeans proved his descriptions of the Upper Nile and the monuments found there to be accurate.   Further Details...

Source

Lucas, Paul, Reise nach der Levante, (Hamburg: Vierling) 1707.    

Condition

Very good. Slight toning. 2 sheets joined by publisher. Slight wear on old fold lines.

References

OCLC 313299076 (entire book).