Anthropomorphic Maps and the

Human Shape of the Holy Land

Chapter 6 - Modern Anthropomorphic Maps

The German Sebastian Munster was one of the senior cartographers of his time. While other map makers limited themselves in their descriptions to maps of continents and states, Munster showed also cities and interested places. He offered an Encyclopedia of data about the world. Munster was a man of universal knowledge: Historian, Mathematician and Linguistic. He started his academic career as a Hebrew teacher.

Munster – Europe as a woman – 16^th century

West is in the upper side of the picture and Spain is the head

The European anthropomorphic maps genre developed and single states became the subjects.

A map of the Low Lands as a lion – 16^th century

England as a man riding on a whale – 18^th century

The artist William Harvey created in the 19^th century a full atlas of anthropomorphic maps under the title: "Geographical Fun. Humorous Outlines of Various Countries." The atlas was published in 1869 and included 12 maps of European countries, each with a unique character. Harvey's aim was educational: to help young students with the tedious task of Geography learning.

William Harvey - Ireland and Russia as anthropomorphic map - 1869

An Internet site presents coloring pages for children with states maps as faces of unique characters.

Australia and India as coloring maps

The increased amount of anthropomorphic maps raises the question of their creditability. Although the total number of anthropomorphic maps is not big, it is possible to find two different descriptions of the same place. The criterion for ruling in this matter is the level of correlation with the terrain.

Gustav Dore, 1854 – Russia as an old woman

A contradiction with the bear in Harvey's picture

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