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Style Guide: Ancient Map Reconstruction

This is the style guide to build ancient maps inspired on those drawn on centuries XVI and XVII.

This is the style guide to build ancient maps inspired on those drawn on centuries XVI and XVII.

The guide is inteded for those using vectorial tools, the reason why it contains references to color codes and line widths, in points.

1. Materiality & Color Philosophy

Every element must simulate a physical process: the "press" of metal into paper and the "wash" of pigment onto a substrate.

1.1 The "Pigment" Palette

Use these specific hex codes for all vector fills and strokes. Avoid pure blacks or neon saturation.

Element Color Name Hex Code Usage
Ink Iron Gall / Carbon #1A1A1A All linework, text, and icons.
Water Smalt Blue #A8C3D4 Coastal washes and rivers.
Vegetation Sap Green #B4C19A Forests and marshes.
Highlands Raw Sienna #D2B48C Mountains and desert plateaus.
Political Madder Lake #E5A1A1 Border highlights and territories.

2. Typography & Nomenclator (Language)

Text must appear hand-engraved. Use Latin for all common nouns and functional labels.

2.1 The Latin Glossary

English Latin (Label) Typography Style
Ocean / Sea Oceanus / Mare IM Fell French Canon (All Caps)
Land / Landmass Terra / Regnum Cormorant Garamond (Bold Italic)
Island Insula EB Garamond (Regular)
River Fluvius (Abbr: Fl.) IM Fell English Italic (Curved)
Mountain Mons (Plural: Montes) IM Fell English Italic (Curved)
Lake Lacus EB Garamond (Regular)
Bay / Gulf Sinus EB Garamond (Italic)
Strait Fretum EB Garamond (Italic)
Forest Silva EB Garamond (Italic)

2.2 Typographic Hierarchy

  • Global Features: Wide letter-spacing (30–50%).
  • Physical Features: Always curve text to follow the natural path of rivers or mountain ranges.
  • Orthography: In capital letters, the "V" may be used in place of "U" (e.g., FLVVIUS) for an archaic aesthetic.

3. Geographic Linework

Line weight is the primary indicator of geographic importance.

  • Coastlines: Heavy stroke (1.5pt). Use "Waterlines" (3 parallel echoes into the sea with decreasing opacity: 100%, 50%, 20%).
  • Rivers: Tapered stroke. Source should be 0.2pt, mouth should be 1.0pt. Use meandrine paths.
  • Borders: Dashed lines (0.8pt). Historically "underlined" with a soft Madder Lake wash.
  • Roads: Subtle dotted lines (0.5pt).

4. Iconography & Symbols

4.1 The Urban Hierarchy (Nested Circles)

  • Caput (Capital): A solid dot inside a double-line circle.
  • Civitas (Major City): A solid dot inside a single-line circle.
  • Oppidum (Town): A simple empty circle.
  • Pagus (Village): A single small solid dot or tiny circle.

4.2 Geometric Markers (Sites of Interest)

  • Locus Celebris (Points of Interest): A small Square or Dotted Square.
  • Castrum (Fortress): A small Diamond or four-pointed star.
  • Portus (Port): A tiny "T" shape (pier) or anchor symbol.

4.3 Natural Landmarks

  • Mons (Peak): A small open Triangle.
  • Vulcani (Volcano): An open triangle with a three-line "smoke" plume.

5. Architectural Framing (The Border)

5.1 The Triple-Line Frame

  1. Inner Rule: Thin line (0.5pt) hugging the map.
  2. The Gutter: Checkered pattern where each segment represents Gradus (Degrees of Latitude/Longitude).
  3. Outer Rule: Heavy, weighted line (2.0pt).

5.2 Corners & Cartouche

  • Corners: Baroque Acanthus scrollwork.
  • Cartouche (Titulus): Located at Top Center. Typical text: TABVLA GEOGRAPHICA [Name].

6. The Cartographic Grid (Navigation)

  • Wind Rose: Place in the largest empty sea area.
  • Rhumb Lines: Radiate 16 or 32 rays at 20% opacity. Mask when crossing land.
  • Septentrio (North): Indicated by the Fleur-de-lis on the wind rose or as a standalone emblem.

7. Signature & Scale

Scala Miliarum (The Scale Bar)

Located in a bottom corner. Use the "Checkered Bar" style.

Scale Bar Construction:

  • The "Barley-Sugar" Rule: Horizontal rectangle with alternating black and white blocks.
  • Primary Divisions: The leftmost block subdivided into 4 or 10 sub-units.
  • Labels:Numbers above the bar; unit name (e.g., Milliaria, Leucae) centered below it.

The Cartographer’s Mark

Place the simplified Fleur-de-lis Emblem near the scale bar.

  • Signature formula: Auctor [Name] or Delineavit [Name].
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