1702 Johann Degler / Heinrich Scherer Allegory of the Mogul Empire

This is a fascinating allegorical engraving representing the Mogul Empire was composed by the German religious painter Johann Degler. It was issued in Heinrich Scherer's 1702 Atlas Novus.

A Closer Look

The image is meant to convey the main idea of the Mogul Empire. While not primarily a map, the engraving uses cartographic elements to give the image geographical context. The central image is framed by the upper Indus River on the left and the upper Ganges River on the right. The Ganges is shown flowing from the Montes Dalanguer, a mountain range appearing on 17th-century maps before the Himalayas were well understood. The Indus is shown with its headwaters in the Caucasus Mountains, with which the river has no connection. Cities along the two rivers are named: among them are Lahore, Kabul, Srinigar, Patna, and Raipur.

An Allegorical Onslaught

From between these two mountain ranges and spreading between the rivers, Degler has conjured an army mounted on elephants and camels, representing the Mogul Empire. These are preceded by a vanguard of putti. To the left, two of the putti, laden with crowns and other precious items, bear a shield reading (in Latin) 'It abounds in great riches.' On their knees, banners read '37 Kingdoms and Provinces' and 'Gold, gems and pearls.' The pair in the middle, brandishing weapons, deliver the message, 'The empire of the great Mughals guarantees military power. Thus wars proceed.' Scherer's explicit religious position is laid out with the right-hand pair: 'The empire abounds in innumerable superstitions: Brahmin fables; the nonsense of the Koran.'

Publication History and Census

This plate was engraved by Joseph von Montalegre after a drawing by Johannes Degler. It appeared first in Heinrich Scherer's 1702 Atlas Novus, which was reprinted without significant change in 1730. The atlas is reasonably well represented in institutional collections, and its maps appear on the market with some regularity, but its allegorical plates, such as this one, are scarce.