Sibenik, Porec, Methoni. - Sibinium, Ptolemeo Sicum vulgo Sibenicho. Dalmatie Opp. [on sheet with] Parens, sive Parentium vulgo, Parenzo Histriae Opp. [and] Modon, sive Modona,...

SIBENIK

CAPTION: Sibinium, for Ptolemy Sicum, commonly Sebenico, Dalmatian town.

COMMENTARY BY BRAUN: "Sibenik, which is called Sicum by the elderly and Sebenicho in their accustomed tongue, lies on the Adriatic Sea on the edge of Dalmatia and falls under the domain of the Venetians. Pliny says that Emperor Claudius provided for his old soldiers in this town."

Sibenik is depicted from the sea, overlooking the narrow harbor entrance to the sound with its St Nicolas's fortress and two bastions. St Michael's (today St Anne's) fortress can be seen on the hill above the town. Sibenik is first mentioned in 1066. After multiple, alternating rulers in 1412 Sibenik was captured by the Venetians and remained under their rule until 1797. The three-nave cathedral, one of the most famous Dalmatian Renaissance structures, which was erected from 1431 to 1535 in honor of St James, can be made out with its characteristic domed crossing at the front center; to the right is the church of St Francis. Sibenik lies on the Adriatic coast in Dalmatia, a region steeped in history, and today has 52,000 inhabitants.

POREC

CAPTION: Parens or Parentium, commonly Porec, town in Istria.

COMMENTARY BY BRAUN: "Porec is a town in Dalmatia on the Adriatic Sea. Bernhard von Breydenbach writes about it in his Reise nach Jerusalem: As Paris wanted to abduct Helena, he had his ships fortified in this city. [...] From this town one can easily travel to Jerusalem, but obtaining a passport presents many difficulties since Dalmatiens and Istrians have different rulers. [...] And since no one is allowed to tour this countryside, topographers and geographers have also produced little on it."

Porec is depicted from the sea as a well-fortified town with towers and solid walls, in the foreground is St Nicholas's Island with a Benedictine monastery. Behind the high walls, in the Euphrasius basilica from the 6th century, is identifiable on the left, and, on the right, the church of St Mary. The town was founded in c. 100 BC, after the Roman conquest of the resident Histri. Following the migration period Porec was under Byzantine rule for some 250 years, and, after alternating and unclear governance, the Venetians rose to power in 1267. Porec is today a major port on the west coast of Istria, with 17,000 residents.

METHONI

CAPTION: Modon or Modona, also Methoni, is a coastal town of the Peloponnese in the countryside of Morea

COMMENTARY BY BRAUN: "The Turkish Sultan Bayezid II laid lengthy siege to Methoni; storming it simultaneously at three points. [...] As the town was now in great danger and there was little hope of holding out for long, four Venetian galleys came suddenly to the town's rescue, well outfitted with soldiers, provisions, munitions and weapons. Now, as every man ran excitedly from the town to the harbor to joyously welcome the reinforcements, all entrenchments and firing positions were abandoned by the soldiers. Meanwhile, all the Janizaries recognized the favorable opportunity and scaled the unoccupied city walls, thus capturing the town on St Lawrence Day, 10 August 1500."

The plate is depicted from the sea and affords a direct view into the harbor of the well-fortified town. Methoni was referred to as Pedasus in Homer's Iliad and was undefeated in antiquity due to its natural harbour. At the beginning of the 2nd century AD Emperor Trajan declared the town independent. In 395 it belonged to the Byzantine Empire. In 1124 Methoni was captured by the Venetians; in 1498 it was besieged by the Ottomans under Sultan Bayezid II and finally captured on 9 (not 10) August 1500.

The three views are made after woodcuts by Erhard Reuwich in Bernard von Breydenbach's Peregrinatio in terram sanctam, 1486. (Taschen)