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Syria: A Map of Damascus, Braun and Hogenburg, 1572-1617

Syria: A Map of Damascus, Braun and Hogenburg, 1572-1617

Georg Braun (also Brunus, Bruin; 1541 – 10 March 1622) was a topo-geographer. From 1572 to 1617 he edited the Civitates orbis terrarum, which contains 546 prospects, bird's-eye views, and maps of cities from all around the world.

The six-volume work was inspired by Sebastian Münster's Cosmographia. In form and layout it resembles the 1570 Theatrum orbis terrarum by Abraham Ortelius, as Ortelius was interested in a complementary companion for the Theatrum.

The Braun publication set new standards in cartography for over 100 years. Frans Hogenberg (1535–1590, from Munich) created the tables for volumes I through IV, and Simon van den Neuwel created those for volumes V and VI.

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