The Three Babylons by Henri Estienne, Maarten van Heemskerck and Athanasius Kircher

Abstract

This paper aims to compare three reconstructions of Babylon, printed respectively by Henri Estienne in 1566 in Geneva (4 plates); by Philips Galle in 1572 in Antwerp, after a drawing by Maarten van Heemskerck (1 plate); and by Athanasius Kircher in 1670 in Amsterdam, after several sources (7 plates). Despite their diversity – resulting from basically different choices, interpretations and making processes – these reconstructions appear to be linked by a subtle web of affinities, partly due to the same sources used by the three authors, and partly to their similar purpose: to disseminate on the print market tools of knowledge suited to the rapid expansion of the historical and geographical horizons of the Old Continent.