Maps of Paradise
- Contents
- Review Quotes

Paradise Nowhere and Elsewhere
Beyond the Cloud of the Present Moment
The Vicissitudes of a Word
Elusive but Everywhere
A Paradise Remote in Time or Space
Paradise in Islam
Visual Prelude: A Luminous Ascension
Bibliographic Essay
Chapter 2
Mapping the Territory
In Search of a Road Map
Maps of Paradise
Visual Interlude: Paradise on the Leardo Map
Bibliographic Essay
Chapter 3
Mapping the Bible
Paradise in the Text
Paradise on Earth: the Birth of a Notion
Naming the Place
Mapping with Theology
Visual Interlude: Paradise on the Beatus Map
Bibliographic Essay
Chapter 4
Mapping Time
Maps of the World: Medieval and Modern
Paradise on the Map
Mapping Time and Space
A Case in Point: The Hereford Mappa Mundi
Where was Eden?
Visual Interlude: Paradise on the Ebstorf World Map
Bibliographic Essay
Chapter 5
Where is Nowhere?
Glimpsing Paradise from a Distance
Grasping the Mystery
Paradise and the Climatic Zones
Return to the Bible
Geography Catches Up on Maps
Visual Interlude: Paradise on Fra Mauro’s World Map
Bibliographic Essay
Chapter 6
Pinning Down Paradise
From Paradise Present to Paradise Past
A Radical Change in European Cartography
Changing Theology
Paradise Lost and Found
Visual Interlude: Paradise in Mesopotamia
Bibliographic Essay
Chapter 7
Everything Changes, Nothing Changes
Sacred Geography
Variations on the Mesopotamian Theme
Paradise in Armenia and the Holy Land
Visual Interlude: The Invisible Paradise in the Land of Canaan
Bibliographic Essay
Chapter 8
New Life into an Old Debate
Secular Scholars Searching for Eden
Babylon and the Bible
A Swinging Pendulum
Visual Interlude: Paradise in the Seychelles
Bibliographic Essay
Chapter 9
Paradise and Utopia
Visual Closure: Maps of Utopia
Imagine There’s No Eden
Bibliographic Essay
Index
Picture credits
“Because of the nature of the subject, which encompasses art, science and theology among other fields, it will appeal to both scholarly and amateur readers with a variety of interests.”
“[The images and text] make the erudite journey of discovery that Scafi’s book offers readers tremendously enjoyable.”
Geography: Cartography
History: General History | History of Ideas
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