The Peutinger Table, or Tabula Peutingeriana, is an invaluable cartographic document, a window onto the road network of the Roman Empire as it existed in the 4th century. More than a simple map, this masterpiece illustrates the geopolitical, cultural and logistical organisation of an empire that stretched across three continents. This nearly seven-metre-long parchment scroll offers a schematic but incredibly detailed representation of Europe, Asia and northern Africa.
In this article, we will explore the fascinating history of the Peutinger Table, its unique features, its symbolism, and its importance in understanding antique maps of Europe, Asia, the Mediterranean, and the Maghreb .
History and Origin of the Peutinger Table
The Peutinger Table: An Ancient Origin
The Peutinger Table is a medieval copy of an ancient map believed to have been made in the 4th century, during the Late Roman Empire. This original map, often attributed to Marcus Vipsanius Agrippa, is believed to have been commissioned by Augustus and carved in marble near the Porticus Vipsaniae in Rome. It was used to illustrate the network of imperial roads (cursus publicus) that facilitated commercial, military, and administrative exchanges throughout the Empire.
The originality of the Table lies in its function: it is not a realistic geographical map, but a road guide designed to allow travelers to plan their journeys taking into account distances and stages.
A Transmission Through the Centuries
The document we know today is a reproduction made in 1265 by copyist monks from Colmar in France. It was rediscovered in 1494 by the humanist Conrad Celtes, who gave it as a gift to Konrad Peutinger, a scholar and collector from Augsburg. It is to the latter, a contemporary (and probably neighbor!) of Jörg Seld, creator of the famous map of Augsburg, that the map owes its name.
After being held in several private collections, the Peutinger Table was passed on to Emperor Charles VI in the 18th century and incorporated into the Austrian National Library in Vienna. It is still held there and was inscribed on UNESCO's Memory of the World Register in 2007.
Dimensions and Structure of the Peutinger Table
The Peutinger Table is composed of 11 segments of parchment which, when assembled, form a scroll 6.82 metres long and 34 centimetres wide. However, a twelfth segment is missing, which would have represented Spain, Portugal and the western part of the British Isles.
The Table's elongated format deliberately distorts geographical proportions, compressing regions such as the Mediterranean into a horizontal band, while roads and distances are represented linearly. This makes it a functional document, comparable to a modern subway map.
The Peutinger Table: An Antique Map of Europe, Asia and Africa
The Peutinger Table covers a colossal geographical area, illustrating the major roads and cities of:
• Europe, from the British Isles to the Balkans, via Gaul, Italy, and Germania.
• Asia, including the Near East, India (mentioned as "Insula Taprobane") and even China ("Sera Maior").
• The Maghreb, with regions such as Carthage and roads crossing the Sahara.
• The Mediterranean, described as a central strip around which sea and land routes gravitate.
The map also covers mythical areas, such as the supposed limits of the Roman world, marked by mentions such as "up to India" or "up to the borders of China."
Symbols and Representations in the Peutinger Table
Major Cities and Roads
The Peutinger Table highlights 555 cities and 3,500 geographical features. Among the most important are:
• Rome, the center of the Empire, symbolized by a goddess holding a globe and a scepter.
• Constantinople, capital of the Eastern Empire.
• Antioch, a strategic crossroads between Asia and Europe.
The imperial roads, traced in red, connect these cities and are accompanied by indications of the distances expressed in Roman miles. The cursus publicus network is clearly represented, illustrating the efficiency of communications within the Empire.
Ports, Baths and Sanctuaries
The Peutinger Table places particular emphasis on Roman infrastructure, such as ports, lighthouses and baths, testifying to their role in daily life and trade. For example:
• Alexandria is depicted with its famous lighthouse, one of the wonders of the ancient world.
• Ostia, the port of Rome, is directly connected to the Mediterranean.
• The thermal baths of cities such as Aquae Sextiae (Aix-en-Provence) are also noted.
Symbolic and Schematic Representations
Unlike modern maps, the Peutinger Table does not aim to faithfully represent relief or distances. It adopts a schematic approach, prioritizing the efficiency of routes and the clarity of information. For example:
• The Mediterranean is reduced to a horizontal band, while the mountains and rivers are drawn in a stylized manner.
• Areas such as the Nile Delta or the Saharan roads are represented symbolically, but remain easily identifiable.
The Limits and Errors of the Peutinger Table
The Missing Segment
The absence of the first segment, representing Spain and Portugal, is a significant loss. Attempts at reconstruction, such as that of Konrad Miller in 1887, allow us to imagine what this part might have looked like.
Copy Errors
Some errors are due to the multiple copies made over the centuries. For example, the name of Grenoble is written "Culabone" instead of "Cularo". In addition, confusions in distances or place names are frequent.
The Historical Importance of the Peutinger Table
The Tabula Peutingeriana is much more than an ancient map of Italy, Europe or the Mediterranean. It is a unique testimony to the Roman worldview and the efficiency of their administration. It shows how the Romans used roads to connect territories as far apart as Egypt, Gaul and China.
Its inclusion in the UNESCO Memory of the World Register confirms its importance as documentary heritage.
Conclusion: The Peutinger Table, a window on Antiquity
The Peutinger Table remains a unique testimony to the grandeur of the Roman Empire. Through its roads, cities and symbols, it offers a fascinating insight into the organization of an ancient world centered around the Mediterranean.
To learn more, explore my other pages dedicated to antique maps of Europe, Asia, the Maghreb or the Mediterranean, and discover the history of the civilizations that shaped these regions.