1550 Munster Leaf India Punjab Alexander Battle Aornus

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1550 Description of India and Punjab from "Cosmographia" by Sebastian Münster
Conquest of India by Alexander; The Battle of the Indian Rock (Aornus); Porus and the Battle of the Hydaspes
One Woodcut Picture: Ancient Mountaineering

Single authentic woodcut leaf from "Cosmographia" by Sebastian Münster. German edition; Basel printing house of Sebastian Heinrich-Petri 1550. Book V ("Von dem land Asie"), pages Mclxi-Mclxii (1161/2).

Sebastian Münster (1488-1552) was a German cartographer, cosmographer, and Hebrew scholar whose Cosmographia (1544; "Cosmography") was the earliest German description of the world and a major work - after the Nuremberg Chronicle of 1493 - in the revival of geographic thought in 16th-century Europe. Altogether, about 40 editions of the Cosmographia appeared during 1544-1628. Although other cosmographies predate Münster's, he is given first place in historical discussions of this sort of publication, and was a major influence on his subject for over 200 years. Cosmographia contained not only the latest maps and views of many well-known cities, but included an encyclopaedic amount of detail about the known - and unknown - world and undoubtedly must have been one of the most widely read books of its time. Aside from the well-known maps and views present in the Cosmographia (including the first separate printed map of the Western Hemisphere), the text is thickly sprinkled with vigorous woodcuts: portraits of kings and princes, costumes and occupations, habits and customs, flora and fauna, monsters and horrors. Of about 20 German editions of the Cosmographia, the 1550 edition is the most valued. Click here for the title page of the 1550 German edition (not included).

Click here for more information about Münster and Cosmographia, including the content and list of editions and artists

This most interesting authentic leaf from the 1550 German edition of Cosmographia is devoted to to the conquest of India by Alexander the Great. Page 1161 (top) describes the conquest of the rocky Indian fortress of Aournus (326 BC). The spring of 326 BC featured one of the most awe inspiring, yet mysterious feats of Alexander's career. The Macedonian invasion of India started with the conquest of the temperate valleys of the Kunar and Swat near the foothills of the Himalayas where the Indian tribe of the Assacenians offered fierce resistance. Fleeing their besieged cities the Assacenians withdrew to the rock fortress of Aornus (Dornos; probably the hill of Pir-Sar in northern Pakistan). Alexander realized it would be a moral victory for the Indians if their resistance was not suppressed. However, Aornus had a reputation for being absolutely impregnable. According to legend even the hero Hercules had failed to capture the rock. But Alexander decided his message had to be clear: no one should be able escape him. So, together with Ptolemy and a small force of his best armed troops he made his way up anyway. By constructing a bridge over a ravine which enabled his siege artillery to fire at the enemy, Alexander proved that even their rock fortress would not be a safe haven for the Assacenians. They lost heart and in desperate attempt to escape most of them found their death by throwing themselves down the steep cliffs. The leaf contains one woodcut picture of the battle of Aornus.

Page 1162 describes the greatest of Alexander's battles in India against Porus, one of the most powerful Indian leaders - the rajah of the lands between the Jhelum and the Chenab rivers in Punjab. The battle took place in July 326 B.C. at the river Hydaspes. Alexander's army crossed the heavily defended river in dramatic fashion during a violent thunderstorm to meet Porus' forces. The Indians were defeated in a fierce battle, even though they fought with elephants, which the Macedonians had never before seen. Alexander captured Porus and, like the other local rulers he had defeated, allowed him to continue to govern his territory. Alexander even subdued an independent province and granted it to Porus as a gift. See pictures for more details; click image to view larger version.

Page measures 8.3 x 12.8 inches. Wide margins suitable for framing. Printed on quality laid paper. The leaf is in fair condition. Imperfections: several brownish stains, including one large stain in the side margin; wormholes; handling in margins. Margins can be covered or trimmed. This is a rare and exceptionally interesting historical document which will look great with a mat and frame.

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