This map of Cyprus denotes the geographical areas of nine Cypriot kingdoms, Amathus, Chytroi, Kition, Kourion, Lapethos, Marion, Paphos, Salamis, and Soloi. This map is the only source, probably Greek, for this ancient information. Its hypothetical composition of the territory of each kingdom resulted from the investigation and interpretation of various historical sources from antiquity, including Herodotus' Histories and the works of Diodorus the Sicilian. Moullart-Sanson also used information drawn from two ancient cartographers, Ptolemy and Strabo. In the middle of the 4th century, the kingdoms of Cyprus are usually listed as ten, including Marium, Tamassus and Kerynia, which Moullart-Sanson omits and adds Chytri and Mali instead.

His Roman roads connecting the main towns borrowed from theTabula Peutingeriana are also modified.

The rest of the contents of the map are worth studying in detail. They are mainly based on Strabo and Ptolemy, but there are also some original suggestions by Moullart-Sanson himself. For example, he marks the ancient city of Asine in the kingdom of Soli, which is correct. However, other cartographers keep it as of unknown position on their "ancient" maps (Ortelius and others), although it is marked as a village in the corrupted form of Asimion on their ordinary maps.

Moullart-Sanson also adapted the Ptolemaic latitude and longitude to his map. (Stylianou)

SANSON FAMILY

Nicolas Sanson (1600-1667) - Guillaume Sanson (1633-1703) - Pierre Moullart-Sanson (? -1730)

Originally from Abbeville, Nicolas I Sanson showed a keen interest in historical geography. He was still very young; he published a map of ancient Gaul and two treatises, Britannia and Portus Itius on Abbeville and Boulogne's origins. His meeting with Melchior Tavernier was decisive: it prompted him to give up his duties as a military engineer in Picardy and devote himself to engraved cartography.

At the same time, Sanson had drawn up the outline of modern France. He got the help of Tavernier, who encouraged him to compete with the Dutch map publishers. Tavernier contacted other French cartographers whose works he published.

From 1643, N. Sanson obtained a privilege to publish a work personally, the Princes souverains de l'Italie. Then, in 1644 and 1645, he had his famous geographical tables printed, which significantly contributed to his fame. He also published a series of atlases in quarto of the four continents.

In 1648, N. Sanson associated himself with Mariette to publish atlases. From then on, specific maps bore his name and others Mariette's. N. Sanson and Mariette worked together for more than 20 years. After the death of N. Sanson, Mariette acquired the entire fund. Since Mariette only wanted to publish complete atlases, individual maps were no longer sold, and some army generals complained to the king.

The disagreement between the Sanson family and Pierre II Mariette culminated in 1671 when Guillaume Sanson took the case to court. There was no longer any question of collaboration: Guillaume Sanson started working for another publisher, Alexis-Hubert Jaillot.

The Sanson family faced financial difficulties, and in 1692, their cousin, Pierre Moullart-Sanson, bought the entire geographic fund from his uncles and aunt. Pierre Moullart-Sanson was the son of Françoise Sanson (third child of Nicolas) and Pierre Moullart. He restarted the publishing of Sanson's world atlas, and in 1704 he acquired a privilege for publishing all the works of Nicolas and Guillaume Sanson, which continued to be published until 1730.