Groningen City Map 1575

Bas Teunissen

Almost 450 years ago, the city of Groningen was much smaller than it is nowadays. The city’s surface was less than everything that can be found within the limits of the canals these days. The Groningen Museum would be on the star-shaped island, the shopping center at Westerhaven would be somewhere in a meadow and one would be hard-pressed to find the Noorderplantsoen for some relaxing. Still, the city is easily recognizable on this map dating from 1575.

Deze kaart is een kopergravure van Groningen in 1575 zoals die werd uitgegeven. Particulieren konden zelf hun kaarten in laten kleuren.This map is a copper engravement of a birds-eye view of Groningen in 1575 as it was published. Owners could have their personal maps colored, if they wanted to.

This map is a copper engravement of a birds-eye view of Groningen in 1575 as it was published. Owners could have their personal maps colored, if they wanted to.

De gekleurde kaart ziet er zo uit. Deze specifieke kaart was onderdeel van de Mello Backercollectie.The colored map looks like this. This specific map is part of the Mello Backer collection.

The colored map looks like this. This specific map is part of the Mello Backer collection.

Backer was een welgestelde Groninger uit de 19e eeuw die aan de RUG had gestudeerd. Naast zijn werk als lid van de provinciale staten verzamelde hij porselein en boeken en kaarten over Groningen, waaronder deze.Backer was a wealthy man in 19th-century Groningen and had studied at the University of Groningen. Besides his work as a member of the Provincial States of Groningen, he gathered porcelain, and books and maps of Groningen, such as these.

Backer was a wealthy man in 19th-century Groningen and had studied at the University of Groningen. Besides his work as a member of the Provincial States of Groningen, he gathered porcelain, and books and maps of Groningen, such as these.

Groningen, rijk, dichtbevolkt en een Friese stad, goed verdedigd tegen vijandelijke aanvallen, gebouwd door Ptolemeus Phileon en vernoemd naar Grunno, broer van de Franse koning Anthenos. In het jaar 377 voor de geboorte van Christus, schrijft Hunibaldus.Groningen, wealthy, populous, and a Frysian city strongly defended against hostile attacks, built by Ptolemeus Phileon and named after Grunno, brother of the French king Anthenos. In the year 377 before the birth of Christ, writes Hunibaldus.

Groningen, wealthy, populous, and a Frysian city strongly defended against hostile attacks, built by Ptolemeus Phileon and named after Grunno, brother of the French king Anthenos. In the year 377 before the birth of Christ, writes Hunibaldus.

Grunno was een balling uit Troje. Dichters probeerden de stad Groningen status te geven door een connectie met deze mythische figuur te maken. Dit handschrift uit de jaren 1530 bevat de oudst bekende vermelding van ‘Grunus’.Grunno was a Trojan exile. Poets tried to give the city of Groningen status by creating a connection with this mythological figure. This manuscript from the 1530s contains the first known mention of ‘Grunus’.

Grunno was a Trojan exile. Poets tried to give the city of Groningen status by creating a connection with this mythological figure. This manuscript from the 1530s contains the first known mention of ‘Grunus’.

This virtual exhibition was made as part of the Summerschool Things That Matter 4.

Last modified:

30 January 2020 09.33 a.m.

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