This rare bird's-eye view depicts Babylon as described by Herodotus of Halicarnassus (c. 484–425 BC), known as the Father of History. The legendary city of Babylon was the most important city of Mesopotamia; its name is thought to mean the gate of the gods. The Euphrates is shown bisecting the city, which is surrounded by a fortified wall that is noted as "two hundred cubits" in height. The tower of Babel is shown at right. A lettered key identifies numerous locations. This view was likely originally created for the 1592 edition of Herodotus’ Histories, published by Henry Estienne. This example was included in a composite atlas of Braun & Hogenberg views.

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Condition: B+

A nice impression on paper with a bunch of grapes watermark. There is light soiling, show-through in top blank margin of old manuscript text on verso, and professional repairs to several short tears and chips in the blank margins.