Digital Resources for Biblical Mapping
Mark Vitalis Hoffman
Presentations / Blog Posts
/ Reviews
Links, Listings, and Further Information
Links, Listings, and Further Information
The links I provide are simply links and do not necessarily imply
endorsement. All maps and resources should be used with discernment. Please let
me know if there are important corrections or additions. Remember to observe copyright restrictions. Thanks
to Todd Bolen at BiblePlaces for
helpful advice and OpenBible.info for
the data they share.
* indicates recommended; bold indicates free programs/sites
Mapping Programs (i.e., allow for creation, customization, or manipulation of
and interactivity with maps)
- *Accordance
Bible Atlas - A very fine map/atlas
implementation. The 3D modeling (Mac only) is particularly helpful.
- *BibleMapper - An
outstanding program that is now available for free (free key is necessary).
Check out the BibleMapper Wiki
for support, tutorials, and map sharing.
- BibleWorks7 - Mapping module
included with program
- *GoogleEarth - start here to
download the program
- 3D Models - go to
location in GE, then click the 3D Warehouse network link
- NT Israel Routes.kmz overlay (mgvh)
used in Luke 24.13 demo
- Gerasa
(Stephen Langfur) - great example of using GoogleEarth to demonstrate
city geometry
- Blog
posting on creating your own overlays
- In the sidebar, expand the Layers section. Under the Primary Database
heading, be sure to check some of the options you can toggle on/off. In
particular:
- Under Geographic Web, check: Google Earth Community, Panoramio,
Wikipedia.
- Under 3D Buildings, look at places like Athens or Jerusalem.
- Under Gallery, check the Gigapan Photos in Istanbul, GoogleEarth
Community links, National Geographic Magazine, Rumsey Historical
Maps (try Middle East 1861 and note that transparency is
adjustable), and YouTube!
- Roads: Greece and Turkey have had
modern road maps available for some time, and in fall 2008, road
maps for Israel were added. Can be helpful not only in figuring out
how to get to sites but also in noting how oftentimes modern roads
follow ancient ones.
- *GoogleMaps
- lacks many features of GoogleEarth, but do note "Terrain" view.
There is now a Google Earth viewer built in to Google Maps.
- *HolyLand 3D - A bit
like GoogleEarth optimized for biblical work; KJV and NET Bibles, Eerdman's Dictionary of the Bible & IVP New Bible Dictionary
(check spreadsheet for more info)
- Logos Bible Atlas '99
- Designed for Win95/8 (does not work well on WinXP); serviceable but dated
- World Wind - Less developed
than GoogleEarth, but it is an open source earth viewer with lots of
potential
Maps within Bible software programs
- *Accordance
Bible Atlas (also cf. above)
- Higgaion blog
- Samples of maps made using Accordance
- BibleWorks7 - Mapping module
included with program (cf. above) but also includes NET Bible maps
- *e-Sword is a fine Bible
study program, and it's probably the best free one available. (e-Sword also
offers a nice, free PocketPC
version.) Once you've downloaded the basic program, you can start to add
a variety of Bibles (many free, others for a very reasonable price) and
other resources. Among these resources are the "Graphics"
which work in the "Graphics Viewer," and include: very nice maps
from the American Bible Society, Classic Maps (I can't determine the date or
source), Mediterranean maps which are useful overview maps of the NT world,
and a collection of NASA satellite photo-maps. For teaching purposes, the
ABS maps are probably the most helpful.
- *Interactive Satellite Map of the
Holy Land - Free download; runs in Internet browser; not a comprehensive
collection of sites but still helpful; links to KJV, reference articles, and
pictures
- Laridian PocketBible
Bible Maps - Silver/Gold libraries include 13 Bible maps and from Manna
Bible maps; site articles with links to/from Bible text, references, map
sites
- Logos Bible Software 3
- iLumina Gold
includes the Tyndale Handbook of Bible
Charts and Maps along with over 200 interactive charts and maps and
1000 Holyland photos. Cost: ~$65.
- Manna Bible Maps
- Somewhat of an older program, but not the following:
- Olive Tree Bible
Map Atlas - for Palm or PocketPC
- "Online Bible"
This is a bit of a misnomer since it is intended to be downloaded and run on
your computer. It is another useful free tool that can be expanded with a
wide variety of resources which include the "Maps"
module found on this linked page. There are 25+ maps, and most of them are
identical to the ones found in the Logos
Deluxe Map set (which, however, has over 200 maps). Nothing
extraordinary but all the basic maps one would most often need.
-
QuickVerse 2009
- (full review here) - Includes 54 scanned maps from the
Hammond Atlas of the Bible Lands; 100+ articles and 1000+ maps are part
of the Parsons Bible Atlas with links to Google Maps
- Walking in Their Sandals
looks to be a great Bible study resource that includes maps and location
information and pictures. Cost: $30.
- Comparison
review with Manna Bible Atlas and Logos Bible Atlas
Online/Downloadable maps
- Archaeological
Study Bible - 16 very attractive sample maps
- Atlas
- 36 maps from a French atlas; attractive but low quality scans
- Bible Atlas
- some simple but quick maps
- Bible
Atlas - 12 good quality maps scanned from what appears to be a 19th
century SPCK atlas
-
Bible
Atlas Online (by Access Foundation) NB: This is a link to the
archive.org listing. Not all the maps are available. There appears to be
some question about their copyright status, but there is a freely available
Accompanying
Study Guide (PDF).
- *BibleMap.org - uses Google date but
linked with KJV/ESV text; chapters return locations on map; places linked to
ISBE
- *BibleWalks -
links sites, maps, information
- *Biblos.com
Atlas provides excellent integration of an atlas with the biblical
texts, i.e., texts linked to maps and vice versa. Locations are linked with
descriptions from the ISBE. Maps are provided with varying zooms and linked
to Google Maps.
- Case's
Bible Atlas to Illustrate the Old and New Testaments is in the
public domain (1878) available online or as a PDF download. 16 maps with
extensive comments and an index.
- eBibleTeacher.com
has a collection of maps, many available for PowerPoint, that are free to
use; OT and NT Maps as well as images of places and biblically related
objects.
- Eye
on Israel - Interactive site with maps, atlases, photos, and commentary
- Historical
& Cultural Atlas Resource (Univ. of Oregon): Collection of maps
reflecting aspects of ancient world
- How
to draw a map of Israel - Dr. Shirley Rollinson will show you how!
- The
Jerusalem Archaeological Park - Highly interactive site with maps,
timelines, and more
- Macrohistory and World Reports
- A small but helpful accumulation of maps of the ancient world. (Also check
the timelines.)
- National
Geographic Magazine Middle East Map Collection - Highly detailed
maps from the magazine; viewable online with zooming and available for
purchase
- *Stephen Langfur has been putting together an excellent study resource for
biblical sites connected with the Near
East Tourist Agency. The maps on that page will get you started.
- LDS
Bible Maps - 14 attractive maps
- *NET Bible online--now
upgraded online as the *NeXt Bible--is
also available as a free
download and includes their fine collection of maps. Many of the maps
are linked to the text in the NeXt Bible, but you can view them all
individually online here.
- *OpenBible.info - Great site to
use online or in conjunction with GoogleEarth
- SansBlogue:
Maps for teaching - A fine example of using maps by Tim Bulkeley
- The Virtual World Project:
Focuses on the ancient eastern Mediterranean with resources for Greece,
Turkey, Israel, and Jordan. Search by map location, features (e.g.,
churches, synagogues, temples), or periods (Paleolithic through Crusader).
Excellent collection of notes and pictures, including many 360 degree views.
- Mapping metasites (i.e., pages with links to biblical maps)
UPDATED: 2010.06.19
Paul's
1st Missionary Journey.kmz