Ancient map of Constantinople XVII century by Jan Jansson

Ancient Map of Constantinople is a finely engraved seventeenth-century depiction of Constantinople (modern Istanbul), created during the golden age of Dutch cartography. Published by Jan Jansson in the 1600s, the map presents the city’s strategic position between Europe and Asia, highlighting its harbors, fortifications, monuments, and surrounding waterways. Executed in the decorative Baroque cartographic style, it combines geographic precision with ornate embellishments, reflecting both the commercial importance and historical prestige of the Ottoman capital.

Jan Jansson (1588–1664), also known as Johannes Janssonius, was one of the leading Dutch mapmakers of the seventeenth century. Working in Amsterdam, he expanded and published some of the era’s most influential atlases, competing with and later collaborating with the Blaeu family. His maps are celebrated for their detailed engraving, artistic ornamentation, and contribution to the advancement of geographic knowledge during the Dutch Golden Age.