12-17-2005, 12:18 AM
Jumping in a bit late, here... I just got back from Italy a couple of days ago. But, while I was there, I visited Taranto and saw the Soleto Map (the original topic of this thread, if you were wondering... :roll: )
The piece is indeed about the size of a postage stamp, see here.
Though described as a fragment, it's clear that it's merely a fragment of a vase, not of a larger map. That is, whoever made the map picked up an already-broken potsherd and incised it. The one name that's damaged, in the upper righthand corner, is due to wear on the edge, rather than a larger break. (See the whole thing here).
Here's a comparison of the Soleto map with a modern map on which the ancient places are placed.
Based on the alphabet used, it is securely dated between 450 and 400 BCE.
I wish I'd taken more notes!
The piece is indeed about the size of a postage stamp, see here.
Though described as a fragment, it's clear that it's merely a fragment of a vase, not of a larger map. That is, whoever made the map picked up an already-broken potsherd and incised it. The one name that's damaged, in the upper righthand corner, is due to wear on the edge, rather than a larger break. (See the whole thing here).
Here's a comparison of the Soleto map with a modern map on which the ancient places are placed.
Based on the alphabet used, it is securely dated between 450 and 400 BCE.
I wish I'd taken more notes!
Dan Diffendale
Ph.D. candidate, University of Michigan
Ph.D. candidate, University of Michigan
