The Human Shape of the Holy Land

    /24-7PressRelease/ - December 18, 2006 - The Biblical story of creation describes God creating man in his shape. The average man describes God with an anthropomorphic framework. A major part of children's time is dedicated for watching animated movies, where Anthropomorphism is very common. The development of computer and robotic technology, create a bigger need of it, for optimizing the connection between man and machine.

The huge popularity of Anthropomorphism exists because the human body is a major focus of attention. It is a microcosm, where the big outer world is reflected. Historic collaboration exists between Medicine men and artists for illustrating Anatomy.

Cartographic Maps are a very influential medium for delivering culture dependant messages. Although modern map making utilizes sophisticated measurement instruments, it is still under the influence of aesthetic design. Atlases of anthropomorphic maps were very successful in the 18th and 19th centuries. In our days, anthropomorphic maps serve occasionally as political caricatures.

The borders of Israel are not defined precisely in the Bible. A recent study of the subject discovered that there are several definitions for the borders of the Land of Israel. These territorial definitions were created at different periods, by different people, and contributed to a total confusion.
The lack of a clear map always disturbed the Zionist idea. It turned Jerusalem into a nominal concept, one that express a value, but is not substantive. That was the case even for the Jews in the Diaspora.

Contrary to its rational cancellation, the Land of Israel always evoked the deepest feelings among human beings in the Western civilizations. The longings for the Holy Land find their voice in numerous forms of art, Gospel songs for example.

The Holy Land was never depicted as an anthropomorphic map. The modern state of Israel is described frequently as a ridiculous image by the modern Arab media. The Holy land Map as a Human Shape can fill the empty space in this respect.

In the map, the land between the Jordan River to the Mediterranean Sea is the face, the Negev Plateau is the neck and Sinai Peninsula is the torso.
It was created by Avinoam Amizan, in the highest levels of Anthropomorphism and correlation with the landscape. It is based on many comparisons between anatomic models and satellite photos, Bible and folk stories.

Amizan dedicate plenty of time for improving the map and writing about the subject. He publish it in his website: http://www.holylandmap.net/

The level of correlations between Geographic regions and the body parts is much higher in this map then in any other map of the same principle. It is a level of correlation which calls for a scientific examination.
Without a scientific value test, the map will remain as a cartographic curiosity.
Between a scientific finding and a caricature, this map is an image with many messages. It is an image in practice, or a visual telling of stories.
In a time of major world ecological problems, it can enhance our commitment for a bond between man and his environment.

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