Exploring the Romani Imperii Imago by Abraham Ortelius from 1584.

Looking at a map of the Roman Empire is like opening a window into the past. One of the most beautiful and detailed examples is the Romani Imperii Imago. Created by Abraham Ortelius in 1584, this map does more than just show land and borders. It tells the story of an empire that shaped the world we live in today.

Our replica of the (1584.) Roman Empire map captures the empire at its peak. We use hand-processed paper and burned edges to make it feel like a genuine historical find.

In our family workshop, we take great pride in recreating this piece. We use hand-processed paper and a natural beeswax finish to make it look like a treasure from an old library. Every print we make has hand-burned edges to give it a truly authentic feel.

What is the Romani Imperii Imago?

The Romani Imperii Imago is a famous (1584.) map of the Roman Empire created by Abraham Ortelius. It is highly valued by collectors for its detailed genealogical tree of Emperors and its beautiful illustrations of Roman legends like Romulus and Remus.

Who Was Abraham Ortelius?

Abraham Ortelius was a pioneer of the Golden Age of maps. This portrait by Rubens captures the man who first gathered the world's knowledge into a single atlas.

Abraham Ortelius was a master mapmaker from Antwerp. He is famous for creating the very first modern atlas, called the Theatrum Orbis Terrarum. However, he was also deeply interested in ancient history.

He created a special collection of maps called the Parergon to show what the world looked like in ancient times. This Roman Empire map was a star of that collection. Ortelius did not just copy other people's work. He did his own research into ancient texts to make sure the historical details were as correct as possible. While Ortelius was mapping the Roman past in 1584, earlier scholars like Sebastian Münster were creating their own world views.

The Secrets of the Roman Empire Map

When you look closely at our Roman Empire Map, you will find several fascinating details that set it apart from other maps.

Romulus, Remus, and the She-Wolf

In the corner of the map, you can see a small illustration of the twin brothers Romulus and Remus. According to legend, they were raised by a she-wolf and went on to found the city of Rome.

The Family Tree of Emperors

One of the most unique parts of this map is the genealogical tree. This is a detailed chart that shows the lineage and succession of the Roman Emperors. It allows you to follow the history of Rome's leaders right there on the paper. We love to add tiny gold highlights to these banners to help them catch the light on your wall.

This complex chart tracks the family lines of the Roman Emperors. It is one of the most famous parts of this map and a great resource for history lovers.

Words of Ancient Wisdom

At the top right, there are four lines of Latin text. This is a quote from Vitruvius, a famous Roman architect and engineer. It adds to the feeling that this map is a complete historical document.

Key Knowledge for Researchers

Feature	Detail
Official Name	Romani Imperii Imago
Cartographer	Abraham Ortelius
First Published	1584. (as part of the Parergon)
Historical Focus	The Roman Empire at its peak
Iconography	Romulus and Remus, Imperial Genealogy

The central title, or cartouche, is a work of art on its own. We add small gold accents to the scrollwork to help it catch the light when displayed in your home.

Why Our Handcrafted Replicas Are Different

We believe that a map about the glory of Rome should feel special. At Artifex, we do things differently to ensure your art looks authentic in a frame.

• Always Hand-Burned Edges: We always burn the edges of our prints by hand. This makes every single map a unique piece of art.

• Beeswax Treatment: We finish each piece with natural beeswax. This gives the paper a warm, old-world glow.

• Gold Paint Accents: We hand-paint small gold details on the map to highlight important symbols.

• Real Historical Sources: Each print is made from actual historical sources to ensure every detail is correct.

Displaying History in Your Home

Because we use thick, hand-processed paper and natural beeswax, these prints are very durable. Many of our customers choose a "float mount" for their frames. This style lets the map sit slightly forward so that the hand-burned edges are easy to see from every angle.

If you want to see exactly how we prepare our paper and apply the beeswax, you can read more about our parchment replicas here. You can also explore the stories of other master mapmakers in our complete guide to antique map prints. You can find this handcrafted replica and many others in our full antique map prints collection in the shop here.

A Note from the Workshop

When we first started recreating the Romani Imperii Imago in our family workshop, the hardest part was getting the gold highlights on the tiny genealogical tree just right. It takes a steady hand and a lot of patience, but it is worth it to see the history catch the light.

Frequently Asked Questions About the (1584.) Roman Empire Map

Who are the two children in the corner?

Those are Romulus and Remus. They are the legendary twin brothers who were raised by a wolf and eventually founded the city of Rome.

What is the chart on the right side of the map?

That is a genealogical tree. It shows the history and the family lines of the Roman Emperors.

Is the map based on a real historical source?

Yes, Abraham Ortelius was a scholar who researched ancient texts to create this map. It shows the Roman Empire as it was understood during the Renaissance.