The Imago Mundi: A Glimpse into Babylonian Cosmology
Crafted nearly 2,600 to 2,900 years ago, the world’s oldest map, the “Imago Mundi” or “Babylonian Map of the World,” remains a fascinating artifact. This ancient map offers insight into how the Neo-Babylonian Empire, known for its advances in architecture, culture, mathematics, and science, viewed the world.
Rediscovery by archaeologists
The map was rediscovered in the 19th century by renowned archaeologist Hormuzd Rassam during his excavation of Sippar in present-day Iraq. Among his finds, which included the Epic of Gilgamesh, was the Babylonian Map of the World. The map is now housed in the British Museum in London. The cracked tablet, measuring 12.2 by 8.2 centimeters (4.8 by 3.2 inches), features a circular map and cuneiform text, though some information is missing due to its poor condition.
Depiction of Mesopotamia
Mesopotamia, the “cradle of civilization,” is depicted on the map as a historical region in the Middle East. Babylon is marked within a rectangular strip intersected by the Euphrates River. Other cities and kingdoms, such as Assyria, Der, and Urartu, are also shown. A near-perfect circular band surrounds these settlements, representing the “Bitter Water” or ocean.
Mysterious elements beyond the ocean
Beyond the ocean, the map marks a place “where the Sun is not seen,” believed to be a land of everlasting darkness. The accompanying text describes various monsters and creatures inhabiting different regions, including a sea serpent, a scorpion-man, a winged horse, and a bull-man. It also mentions animals such as gazelles, panthers, deer, monkeys, ibex, water buffalo, and wolves, painting a vivid picture of ancient Babylonian beliefs and cosmology.