LABORDE, Léon Emmanuel Simon Joseph. Voyage de l'Asie Mineure par Alexandre de Laborde, Becker, Hall, et L. de Laborde, rédigé et publié par Léon de Laborde, Paris, Firmin Didot, 1838.
Simon Joseph Léon Emmanuel, Marquis de Laborde (1807-1869) was a French archaeologist and politician. At the age of twenty he accompanied his father on a journey throughout most of Southern Europe and Asia Minor, drawing monuments of the East with exceptional talent. Laborde continued on to Egypt and Arabia (1828) and remained a traveller throughout his life, residing in various countries of Europe for long periods.
Laborde was secretary of the French embassy in Rome, alongside Chateaubriand. However, in 1845 he gave up his diplomatic career and dedicated himself to writing historical and literary works, while remaining in charge of the antiquities in the Musée de Louvre. He published accounts of his travels in Arabia (1830) and Asia Minor (1838 -1862), as well as a study on the history of engraving. He embarked on writing ambitious works on the monuments and the libraries of Paris, but was unable to bring them to term. He also collaborated with reputable journals of the time. In this important two-volume edition, information, descriptions and drawings by early travellers (A. Thevet, Τ.Η. Arundel, J. Carrey, P. Babin, J. Spon, A.G. Guillet, V.M. Coronelli "et alii"), as well as unpublished material, were used for the first time as a source for research on the antiquities of the city. Laborde's book remains one of the most important studies on Athenian monuments.
This work of Laborde's is an edition in large format, which includes approximately a hundred and seventy plates. These illustrations show antiquities, ancient momunents, remarkable sites and locations of ancient cities as well as scenes from everyday life and some portrayals of human types, mostly from Asia Minor. This impressive work was released at approximately the same period as Texier's “Description of Asia Minor”. Laborde's work showed the wealth of the ancient sites of Asia Minor and spurred the interest for archaeological research in the area.
Written by Ioli Vingopoulou
Subjects (168)
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Composition of landscapes and monuments from Laborde's journey in Asia Minor.
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View of a coast in the gulf of Izmir, from the hills of Sancak Burnu promontory.
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Muslim cemetery on the route from Izmir to the suburb of Burnova.
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Panoramic view of the gulf and city of Izmir from the remains of the temple of Hera.
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View of the Roman aqueduct in Buca, Izmir (formerly also called Valley of Saint Anne).
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The valley of the so-called caves of Homer close to Bornova, Izmir.
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View of the settlement of Kemanli Kevi, situated between Izmir and Manisa.
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The travellers' caravan halts at a rock-cut tomb in Gelenbe, Asia Minor.
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The Sultans' mausoleum in Muradiye architectural complex (kulliye), Bursa.
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View of Seraglio Point, Istanbul, from the French consulate.
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A young Yörük girl offers water to a Turkish traveller outside Sardes.
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Portrait of count Alexandre de Laborde in his travelling costume, Istanbul.
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Portrait of the author, Léon de Laborde, in his travelling costume, Caramania.
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The gate of Constantinople, or Northern Gate of Iznik, from outside the walls.
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Ancient reliefs which had been incorporated into the walls of Iznik.
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On of the gates of Iznik, possibly Lake Gate, from the interior of the walls.
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Landscape at Gallus river (today Kara Su), on the ouskirts of the town of Vezirhan.
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General view of the the city of Sögüt, birthplace of Sultan Osman I, in Bithynia.
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The Sanctuary of Zeus in ancient Aizanoi near Çavdarhisar, Asia Minor, seen from the pronaos.
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View of the Sanctuary of Zeus in ancient Aizanoi near Çavdarhisar, Asia Minor, from the west.
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View of the Sanctuary of Zeus in ancient Aizanoi near Çavdarhisar, Asia Minor, from the south.
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One of the Roman bridges over Penkalas river in Çavdarhisar.
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One of the Roman bridges over Penkalas river in Çavdarhisar.
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One of the Roman bridges over Penkalas river in Çavdarhisar, Asia Minor, to the west of the city.
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View of the Sanctuary of Zeus in ancient Aizanoi near Çavdarhisar, Asia Minor.
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View of the city of Afyon Karahisar and the castle's fortifications.
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Natural rock formations in the village of Kümbet, Asia Minor.
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Forest in the region called Kosref Pasha Khan, near Afyon Karahisar.
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The Phrygian monumental tomb called Arslan Kaplan Kümbet at Kümbet village, in the Phrygian valley.
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View of a mosque in the town of Yalvaç, which is built next to the site of Antioch of Pisidia.
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View of the Odeon of ancient Hierapolis. The ruins of a porticum in the foreground.
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The Gate of Frontinus and the ruins of an early Christian church in Hierapolis.
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Sarcophagi and other fragments of ancient monuments near a cascade at Pamukkale.
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View of the necropolis of Hierapolis. Traveller reading an inscription on a funerary monument.
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The remains of the Ancient Theatre of Tripolis of Phrygia, in modern-day Yenicekent, Asia Minor.
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View of the ruins of Alinda or Alexandria by Latmus and the modern village of Karpuzlu.
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View of the port of Ephesus and the site of the temple of Artemis, from the theatre.
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View of Ayasuluk hill and Ayasuluk castle in Ephesus, from the spot known as Saint Paul's tomb.
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Panoramic view of the remains of Heraclea on the bay of Latmus, today Bafa lagoon.
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View of the ruins of the ancient city Euromus. At the centre, the temple of Zeus Lepsinus.
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View of the temple of Aphrodite in Aphrodisias of Caria, from the northwest.
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The western gate of Aphrodisias in Caria, seen from the interior of the walls.
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The western gate of Aphrodisias in Caria, seen from the exterior of the walls.
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View of the temple of Aphrodite in Aphrodisias of Caria, from the pronaos.
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View of the ruins of Aphrodisias in Caria and the modern settlement of Geyre.
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Roman sarcophagus bearing a relief of human figures from Aphrodisias in Caria.
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Partial view of the Portico of Tiberius in the Agora of Aphrodisias of Caria.
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Ruins of an ancient stadium, probably of the city of Heraclea Salvace, at the village of Vakif.
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View of the town, the lake and the lake islets of Egirdir from the town castle.
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Ruins of an aqueduct in the area of Antioch of Pisidia, close to the town of Yalvaç.
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Ancient funerary monument in the area of Antioch of Pisidia. In the background, the town of Yalvaç.
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Early Christian ruins in Madenşehri, Binbirkilisse area, Mount Karadag.
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Early Christian ruins in Madenşehri, Binbirkilisse area, Mount Karadag.
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Early Christian structures in ruins, in Madenşehri, Binbirkilisse area, Mount Karadag.
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Monument on Taurus mountains in Cilicia, on Alaca plateau, in the district of Erdemli.
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The ruins of a church on Alaca plateau, Erdemli, seen from the local inn.
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The interior of a church in ruins on Alaca plateau, Erdemli district.
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Ancient monument in Ayas, Cilicia. Ancient ruins in the background.
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View of one of the ports of Elaeussa Sebaste (today Ayas) and the city fortress.
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Remains of an ancient temple at Elaeussa Sebaste, today Ayas, in Cilicia.
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View of the Ancient Theatre and the colonnade in Soloi of Cilicia (later Pompeiopolis).
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Landscape at Berdan river (ancient Cydnus) in Tarsus, Cilicia.
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Banana tree and other vegetation in the gardens outside Tarsus, Cilicia.