The 16th century marked a pivotal turn in religious history with the advent of Protestantism, spearheaded by reformers like John Calvin. One of the defining features of this movement was a staunch insistence on the literal interpretation of the Bible. This perspective brought renewed vigor to theological debates and, intriguingly, to cartographic endeavors—particularly the quest to locate the biblical Eden.
The Bible describes Eden as a garden watered by four rivers, among them the Tigris and Euphrates. This description tantalized explorers and theologians alike; if two of these rivers were known and mapped, then surely Eden’s location could be discerned in their vicinity. The literalist approach of Protestant reformers like Calvin did not allow for allegorical interpretations of Eden as a mythical or spiritual place. It had to be a tangible location that one could pinpoint on a map.
This blend of theology and exploration drove cartographers to pore over maps and texts, trying to reconcile scriptural accounts with the expanding knowledge of world geography. The era was characterized by an explosion of cartographic science, with explorers charting new territories and bringing back detailed accounts of lands and waters previously unknown to the European world. Yet, the location of Eden remained an elusive goal, more a theological necessity than a geographical reality.
It was against this backdrop that in 1666, a significant yet curious publication came to be. M. Carver, tapping into the collective imagination and scholarly pursuits of his time, published a map in his book that claimed to show the exact location of Paradise, situating it in Armenia. This assertion was not without precedence; Armenia’s highlands, with their proximity to the headwaters of the Tigris and Euphrates, had long been considered a possible site for Eden by various scholars and theologians.
Carver’s map was more than just a geographical proposition; it was a visual synthesis of the theological convictions of the day, affirming the belief that every word of the Bible could be correlated with a physical place on Earth. His map echoed the convictions of an era that sought to see the words of ancient scriptures come to life in the contours and features of the world’s landscapes.
The map, with its assertion of Paradise in Armenia, represents a fascinating chapter in the history of cartography, where faith and reason intersected in the search for a lost garden that had captivated human imagination for millennia. It reminds us that maps are not just tools for navigation but are also canvases for the beliefs, desires, and curiosities of the times in which they were created.
Today, the idea of locating Eden may seem quaint, a relic of a bygone era when the world still held uncharted territories that could contain ancient wonders. However, Carver’s map and the search for Eden remind us of the enduring human desire to give form to faith, to locate our origins, and to connect our spiritual narratives with the physical world we inhabit.
Artatsolum
Source: keghart.org
