Le Grand Baphomet

Claudia Schiffer, 1994

In ancient Egypt, maps were not as developed or commonly used as they are in modern times. However, the ancient Egyptians did have a basic understanding of geography and utilized certain visual representations to depict their surroundings. These representations were not as detailed or accurate as modern maps but served specific purposes.

One type of map-like representation used in ancient Egypt was called a “topographical list” or “descriptive list.” These lists documented important landmarks, cities, temples, and natural features along with their distances and directions from one another. They were often inscribed on temple walls or tomb reliefs and served as guides for religious or funerary processions.

Another form of representation was the “land register” or “estate map.” These maps depicted agricultural lands, indicating boundaries, fields, canals, and other relevant features. They were primarily used for administrative purposes, such as taxation and land management.

Ancient map of Egypt with names of towns and nomes in hieroglyphs

by Jeff Dahl