Scholars Contribution of Cartography in Jerusalem

During the 19th century the first mapping of Jerusalem were taken by German physician and botanist, F.W. Sieber, when he visited Jerusalem in 1818. He draws up the map based on precise geographical and topographical data. He put more attention to the sacred place and buildings such as the city walls, the various mosques, the Kidron Valley and other topographically significant features, his map obtained the good praise from many researchers because of it more accuracy and provide some error corrections from previous maps.
Great progress in the study of Jerusalem was made during 1830's. And before, less attention was given to the city, it has reached the summit of research attention by 19th century, many researchers engage in collecting the data. In 1833 F. Catherwood and his colleagues have done a worth contribution of mapping activity. Their work was carried out in three parts:
Taking measurements, for the use of drawing a general map
Preparing a "Jerusalem panorama"
Creating a detailed map of the Temple Mount.




The map made by Catherwood is popular among the researchers for about 20 years, but since he did not enter the city of Temple Mount due to the penalty death for the infidel to enter the Muslim city, he could not know more deeply what is in.
The most authentic map of Jerusalem and most detailed was made in 19th century that of Charles Wilson. A British philanthropist contributed 500 Pounds toward a survey of the city and similar amount also collected from other contributors. Wilson along with other six members arrived in Jerusalem in 1964 and after eleven months in 1965 the map was ready.
The map is extremely accurate it shows the survey of the change in altitude between Jaffa and Jerusalem, and between Jerusalem and the dead sea, and Solomon's pools; the map is includes a scale of 1:2,500, and one of surrounding area 1:10.000, as well as plans of the citadel of David, the Temple Mount and the Church of the Holy Sepulcher. Forty-three photographs of Jerusalem's walls, gates and buildings also appear.
Foremost among the maps that appeared between those of Wilson and Shick was the one presented D.Guthe in "Palastine in bild und worte". The map is showed only the old city and the area immediately around it. The portrayal of the city's built up area in the map was accurate for the early 1880's.
In the early twentieth century a number of other maps were there, among the significant of these was Dr. Benzinger's 1905 and the map presented by L.H. Vincent in his book (Jerusalem: Researchers de Topographie d'Archeologie et d'Histoire) later on, there were many other significant maps produced and mostly whole of the maps produced was the enhancement from the previous maps.

Written by Romi Adetio S
Graduate Student of Aligarh Muslim University, India.