Plattegrond van Mainz en zijn omgeving 1781

This is an anonymous, undated map of Mainz and its surroundings. Note how the river, or the 'flumen,' dominates this etching, dividing the landscape and the city itself. The river, a symbol of life and passage, has long been a potent image across cultures. Think of the rivers depicted in Egyptian art, like the Nile, as the source of life and prosperity, or the rivers in Mesopotamian art. Here, the river is a vein pumping through the heart of civilization. The river is not just a geographical feature, it's a cultural artery. The way it is represented, and its centrality to the map, reflect the psychological importance of rivers as both lifelines and borders, shaping how we perceive and interact with our world.