Lake Marmara (Gygaean lake) near Sardes in Asia Minor

Description

Featured in the 1836 collaborative work of Thomas Allom and Robert Walsh, this steel engraving depicts Lake Marmara (ancient Gygaean Lake) and the legendary 'Bin Tepe' (Thousand Tombs) tumuli of the Lydian kings near the ancient city of Sardis in Manisa. While the composition presents massive flocks of migratory birds taking flight from the reeds and a majestic mountain range stretching in the background, it illustrates a camel caravan advancing along the lakeside path in the foreground. The artwork aesthetically documents how Anatolia's topography, shaped by ancient burial monuments, existed in harmony with the pastoral, vibrant, and productive caravan culture of the 19th century.