S1 Ep5: Lost Treasures: Reconstructing Al-Idrisi with Adam Lowe

In this episode, Jerry is joined by Adame Lowe, founder of Factum Arte and the Factum Foundation. Factum is a pioneering digital media studio, working to record, preserve, and restore cultural heritage - particularly where it is in a fragile state.

Adam’s map is Factum’s re-creation of the world map produced by Muhammad Al-Idrisi for King Roger II of Sicily in the 12th century. The map is two metres wide, and made from pure silver.

While this astonishing object was lost to history, Al-Idrisi also produced the famous Book of Roger: an atlas containing a circular world map. Using this precious document and other historical resources, Adam and his team crafted the full-size silver disc based on meticulous research, bringing us as close as possible to the legendary lost map.

To see a high-definition image of the map as it is discussed, go to: https://oculi-mundi.com/podcast 

In What’s Your Map? we speak to people who live, love and work with maps -  making, preserving, interpreting, and being inspired by them. In each episode, we ask our guests to unfold a map that is special to them and to tell us the story that lies behind it. 

Jerry Brotton is a British historian with a specialist interest in maps. He is Professor of Renaissance Studies at Queen Mary University of London and is a regular on BBC Radio 4 and BBC Radio 3. 

What’s Your Map? is a Whistledown Production and is produced by Emily Uchida Finch 

Instagram: @oculimundimaps
Website: https://oculi-mundi.com/