Castrvm Minae / Stadt Minae / Loanda S. Pauli / Alger / Arx Nassovii / Canarien / Insvla S. Thomae / Tanger 1670 - 1672

This untitled composite print, created by an anonymous artist, showcases eight different cities and islands connected by maritime routes. Ships emerge as potent symbols of transit, linking disparate locales across the sea, mirroring the ceaseless movement of cultural exchange. Observe how these vessels, rendered with meticulous detail, also reappear in ancient Greek vase paintings, bearing heroes and gods across mythic seas. Over time, the ship has transformed from a symbol of adventure and discovery to one of trade and exploitation. The ships in this print echo those early associations, yet their presence here marks a shift, freighted with colonial ambitions and the nascent forces of globalization. The viewer is left contemplating the ever-evolving story of humanity's relationship with the sea, a narrative imbued with hope, conquest, and the relentless pursuit of the unknown.