Ancient map of Sicily Italy Siciliae veteris typus by Petrus Bertius

Siciliae Veteris Typus is an antique map by Petrus Bertius depicting ancient Sicily as understood through classical sources. Produced in the early seventeenth century for inclusion in historical and educational atlases, the map identifies ancient cities, regions, mountains, and coastal features of the island. Rendered in an elegant engraved style with Latin place names, it reflects the period’s fascination with the geography of the classical world and the legacy of Greek and Roman civilization in Sicily.

Petrus Bertius (1565–1629) was a prominent Dutch scholar whose works combined geography, history, and theology. His atlases and geographical texts were widely circulated throughout Europe, and he became especially known for maps illustrating ancient, biblical, and contemporary regions. Bertius’s cartographic publications helped readers connect historical events with their geographic settings, making his maps valuable tools for both education and scholarship.