Map of the Holy Land and plan of the Second Temple, by William Whiston. [London, first half of the 18th century].
William Whiston (1667-1752) was an English theologian, historian and mathematician, a colleague of the English physician and mathematician Sir Isaac Newton. In 1702, Whiston succeeded Newton as the Lucasian Professor of Mathematics at the University of Cambridge, but in 1710 he was dismissed due to his theological views, which contradicted the Anglican doctrine.
Whiston is known among Talmud scholars as the translator into English of the works of Romano-Jewish scholar and historian Josephus Flavius. In addition, he constructed a model of the Temple and lectured throughout England on the model and on his views regarding the Second Coming.
1. "Cellarius's, Reland's & Maundrell's Maps of Palestine Corrected and Improved by Mr. Whiston […]." London, 1737. Copperplate engraving.
Map of the Holy Land showing the territories of the tribes of Israel. Includes a legend with points of interest and longitude and latitude lines for finding them on the map. Also includes a note to readers by the author, regarding the changes he introduced compared to the previous maps by Adrian Ryland, Henry Maundrell and Andreas Cellarius. At the bottom of the map is an illustration of an ancient shekel coin, shown from both sides.
The map may possibly be from Whiston's English translation of the works of Josephus Flavius, Genuine Works of Flavius Josephus […], published in London in 1737 by W. Bowyer.
This is a scarce map, not in the Laor Collection at the JNL. One copy on OCLC.
Copperplate engraving. 59.5X49.5 cm (sheet 61X51 cm). Fair-good condition. Creases. Closed tears reinforced with adhesive tape on verso. Stains. Piece missing from right margin, restored. Matted.
2. "Mr. Whiston's Description of his Models of the Tabernacle of Moses; and of Solomon's, Zorobabel's, Herod's, and Ezekiel's Temples at Jerusalem." Single-leaf copper engraving showing a plan of the interior of the Second Temple, based on Whiston's model. [Apparently London, first half of the 18th century].
Surrounding the plan is a long English text by Whiston regarding the Temple, the errors of earlier scholars who had drawn a plan of the Temple, a calculation of the amount of money stored in the Temple, and more. At the bottom of the leaf is a row of illustrations - the Tabernacle, religious apparatus used in the Temple, and more.
Not in OCLC.
62X78 cm sheet. Fair condition. Folding marks and creases. Tears (a few that affect the text), reinforced with adhesive tape on verso. Many stains. Piece partly detached from right margin. Matted.