1855 Jones Archeological Map of Nineveh, Numrud, and Mosul, Iraq

A very impressive 1855 map of the upper Tigris flood plain in the vicinity of Mosul, Iraq. The map is one of three prepared by James Felix Jones to illustrate the seminal Austen Henry Layard excavations at ancient Assyrian royal capitals of Nineveh and Nimrud, as well as the palace complex at Khorsabad. These excavations produced several paradigm-breaking discoveries, including the Epic of Gilgamesh and pre-Biblical 'Great Flood' narratives.

A Closer Look

This work comprises the first comprehensive trigonometrical survey of the greater Mosul region - made to the exacting standards of the British military. Coverage embraces the flood plain between the Tigris and the Upper Zab Rivers from roughly the confluence of those two rivers to Mosul and the excavations of Sargon II's palace at Khorsabad. The map is extensively annotated, with text appearing not only in English, but also in Greek, Arabic, and even Cuneiform (courtesy of Rawlinson). In addition, it notes roads, ravines, tombs and temples, and small villages - some as old as Nineveh itself. The mounds of Koiyunjik and Nebbí Yúnus, the primary focus of Layard's excavations are also noted. Jones himself signs of on the map in the lower left, noting that it is an exact replica of his manuscript compiled in Baghdad in 1852. The border consists of an oriental motif with the iconic Persian lamassu figures bearing the head of Assyrian King Sargon II appearing in each corner.

Nineveh

Nineveh was the capital of the Neo-Assyrian Empire from 705 - 612 BCE. During its penultimate period, Nineveh was the largest city in the world - note here how the ancient walls dwarf nearby Mosul, then as now a significant city. Nineveh also features in Biblical narrative, as well as in the Apocryphal texts, leading to its excavation being a major event in European circles who were eager to reconcile religious narrative with physical discovery. The great city fell into decline after the Assyrian Civil War (612 BCE) when it was sacked by a coalition of former subject peoples including the Babylonians, Medes, Persians, Scythians, and Cimmerians. Although it never recovered its former glory, Nineveh remained inhabited until the 13th century, when the economic, political, and population center shifted across the Tigris to Mosul.

Modern excavations in Nineveh date to about 1842, when French Consul General at Mosul, Paul-Émile Botta (180 2- 1870), began to search the ruined Nineveh mounds for treasure - although with little success. The British diplomat Austen Henry Layard (1817 - 1894), who began excavations in 1847, was more successful. Although his methods were crude by modern standards, focusing on unearthing impressive trophy pieces for the glory of the empire rather than historical preservation, he did make a series of astounding discoveries, including as noted above, coniform tablets containing, among other tales, the Epic of Gilgamesh, forming a near-complete ancient mythology that had long been forgotten.

Nimrud

Nimrud was a major Assyrian city under the Neo-Assyrian Empire (911 - 605 BCE). The Assyrian King Ashurnasirpal II (883 - 859 BCE) made it the capital of his empire, constructing a magnificent palace there. It remained the capital under subsequent kings until 706 BCE when Sargon II moved the royal seat to Dur Sharrukin. Like Nineveh to the north, Nimrud was sacked during the Assyrian Civil War (612 BCE) by an alliance of former subject peoples.

The name Nimrod is not original, instead it was first used in western writing by the Danish explorer Carsten Niebuhr (1733 - 1815). He takes the term from the name of a biblical figure mentioned in the books of Genesis and Chronicles as the 'King of Shinar' (Mesopotamia) who constructed the Tower of Babel. The true name is a matter of some debate. Possible names include: Larissa, Resen, Rehoboth, Ashur, Kalhu, and Calah. The site avoided major excavations until Austen Henry Layard began his work there in 1845. In 2015, along with a host of other irreplaceable historic sites, the ruins of Nimrud were bulldozed by the Islamic State.

Publication History and Census

This map was drawn by James Felix Jones in 1852. It was subsequently engraved and published in London by the house of J. and C. Walker. The map is the third of three produced by Jones. The first, also offered by Geographicus, illustrates the immediate vicinity of Mosul and Nineveh. The second depicts another ancient Assyrian capital, Nimrud, some thirty kilometers downriver. All examples of these seminal maps are rare, both as a set and individually. We note examples of this map at Harvard, the University of Chicago, the University of Wisconsin, UCLA, the Metropolitan Museum of Art, the Bibliothèque nationale de France, and Leiden University Library, Universitätsbibliothek J.C. Senckenberg in Frankfurt, and Landesbibliothek des Sachsen-Anhalts. We see no market history. This piece is owned jointly with Neatline Antique Maps.