Ancient map of Russia by Jodocus Hondius 1633.

Jodocus Hondius was a renowned Flemish cartographer, engraver, and publisher active in the late 16th and early 17th centuries. A key figure in the Dutch Golden Age of cartography, he is best known for reviving and expanding Gerardus Mercator’s work, particularly the Mercator-Hondius Atlas. Hondius combined artistic flourish with geographic precision, producing richly detailed maps that reflected both commercial and scholarly interests in exploration and empire.

The Ancient map of Russia, published in 1633, illustrates Muscovy and surrounding regions during a period of growing European curiosity about Eastern Europe and Siberia. The map combines accurate topographic features with decorative elements, such as illustrated towns, rivers, and indigenous peoples, alongside Latin inscriptions. It reflects the geopolitical complexity of Tsarist Russia while incorporating earlier knowledge from explorers and traders.