Terra Sancta a Petro Laicstain perlustrata, et ab eius ore et schedis a Christiano Schrot in tabulam redacta

A map of the Holy Land as it was compiled by Peter Laicksteen and into a map by Christian Schrot from the 1601 Latin edition of "Theatrum Orbis Terrarum" by Abraham Ortelius (print run of 200). The map is oriented with East at the top, and it refers to the rising of the direction of the sun or the light of God. Although set in a geographical region that is shared with Jewish and Islamic traditions, the map represented in "Theatrum" is an undoubtedly Christian landscape where Christianity dominates. In the title cartouche in the top right corner of the map, three medallions depict from left to right: the Crucifixion, the Adoration, and the Resurrection. Furthermore, most prominently, in the bottom left corner is a decorative biblical scene of Jonah being thrown into the sea where a "big fish" (sea monster or whale) awaits to swallow him. Jonah spent three days and nights in the belly of the ��whale�� for which he repents for disobeying God's orders and is spit back on land. Stories of God's redemption for humanity pervade the map and are contextualized in the Holy Land.

Latin text beginning the chapter on "Terra Sancta" is on verso (111r). The last line, left aligned transcribed: "stare debent antequam ad hunc sanctum militarem ordinem adsumantur,legere est in Leonharti Rauwolfi Itinerario Orientali,Germanica lingua editi."

Reference: Van den Broecke, Marcel P.R. 2011. Ortelius Atlas Maps: An Illustrated Guide. Houten: Hes & de Graaf.