Introduction

The Tabula Peutingeriana Animated Edition offers an interpretation of the manuscript evidence that a Latin chart of the world in roll form existed in late antiquity. Its principal objectives are:

• to graphically identify (by color) the principal itineraries used in the chart's design and distinguish them from any line-work that may have been interpolated later;
• to expose graphical errors by the copyists in which the line-work has mutated (in some cases these may be errors of the draftsman who failed to understand his source material);
• to restore whatever line-work is likely to have appeared on the original TP (or would have appeared there if its development had been rational);
• to provide a digital version of the Tabula with comprehensive weblinks, allowing users to directly access databases recording the mutations (Piggin) and the labels (Talbert)

The edition is the sole work of Jean-Baptiste Piggin (1953 - ) who is also writing a Library of Latin Diagrams and who covers manuscripts and history news on the Macro-Typography blog. The focus is on the Tabula as a diagram and what it reveals about infographic techniques in antiquity. The separate question of the geographical location and identification of places and lines of communication does not concern us here.

To take advantage of the animated edition it is necessary to zoom in and zoom out, scroll left and right, and hover over the yellow boxes to trigger the animation effects. Tapping or clicking the links will take the user to the databases. Readers are invited to suggest improvements, provide further scholarly references or point out errors using the Comments box under each Piggin annotation.