Search the Bible with Google Maps

June 14, 2009 6:49 PM

Biblemap.org is an interactive map system for the bible, which is great for visualising where certain biblical events are said to have occured. It's also great for people who don't subscribe to any kind of organised religion but do like looking at maps (like me!).
posted by Effigy2000 (24 comments total)

It's biblicartographtastic!
posted by Alvy Ampersand at 7:17 PM on June 14, 2009 [2 favorites]

This is really neat! Thank you for sharing!
posted by headspace at 7:40 PM on June 14, 2009

It's a cool idea, but needs to be filled out more, particularly with real-world candidate locations for some of the unknown (or possibly mythical) locations in the Old Testament. For example, it doesn't give any possible locales for the Garden of Eden, Ararat (where Noah's Ark supposedly landed), or Mt. Sinai.

Also, there are a lot of biblical places that aren't best represented as points, but areas or paths, which I guess is harder to do with the Google API.
posted by justkevin at 7:46 PM on June 14, 2009

That is exactly me too. I believe in about 98% of the stories in the Bible as much as I believe the Lord of the Rings books but damned if I wouldn't enjoy seeing and equal number of map fold-outs.
posted by XQUZYPHYR at 7:51 PM on June 14, 2009 [4 favorites]

Awesome! I always liked to flip to the little maps at the back of my Bible while reading. This is like, 100x better.
posted by estherbester at 8:31 PM on June 14, 2009

This is great. A good beginning at any rate. Like justkevin, I think it can be improved with more detail.
posted by nickyskye at 9:17 PM on June 14, 2009

What about the geographic errors in the gospel of Mark? Do they have two geographical locations, the real objectively observable ones, and the fantasy ones in the Bible, or what?
posted by Henry C. Mabuse at 9:17 PM on June 14, 2009 [1 favorite]

I just see a map of a brain.
posted by jeblis at 9:31 PM on June 14, 2009 [4 favorites]

Pretty neat! It'd be nice to search by location instead of book/verse, something more like I Am Near for those of us who've forgotten all our Catholic schooling.
posted by migurski at 9:57 PM on June 14, 2009

It'd be cool to see this applied to literature in general, especially foriegn books that take place in unfamiliar countries/cities. Ideally, it'd have such a comprehensive database you'd just type in the book's name and chapter, but even just a "find the setting(s)!" search for entire books/movies/etc would be cool.
posted by mccarty.tim at 10:34 PM on June 14, 2009 [3 favorites]

What about the geographic errors in the gospel of Mark?

Some context.
posted by vorpal bunny at 10:54 PM on June 14, 2009

"It's a cool idea, but needs to be filled out more, particularly with real-world candidate locations for some of the unknown (or possibly mythical) locations in the Old Testament. For example, it doesn't give any possible locales for the Garden of Eden, Ararat (where Noah's Ark supposedly landed), or Mt. Sinai."
posted by justkevin at 1:46 PM on June 15


justkevin, for your consideration: This previous Metafilter post (kinda) fits the bill.
posted by Effigy2000 at 12:01 AM on June 15, 2009

Oooo ooo, I fouund the exact spot when I realised it was all a crock
posted by mattoxic at 12:53 AM on June 15, 2009 [1 favorite]

It'd be cool to see this applied to literature in general, especially foriegn books that take place in unfamiliar countries/cities.

What a great idea! I've periodically searched for a map of Three Men in a Boat and even considered making my own mashup. A generalized interface would be most excellent.
posted by DU at 4:25 AM on June 15, 2009

Wow, it's like God only cared about what happened in the Middle East or something.
posted by chillmost at 4:58 AM on June 15, 2009

tried it out, but it seems so say that Exodus takes place mostly in the West Bank, which doesn't seem right.
posted by criticalbill at 5:12 AM on June 15, 2009

I loved the little maps in my bible when I grew up. Partly because the last page of Revelation said

If any man shall add unto these things, God shall add unto him the plagues that are written in this book

and the very next page was

ADDENDUM I: MAPS AND TIMELINES

posted by you at 6:12 AM on June 15, 2009 [2 favorites]

This is sweet.
posted by caddis at 7:04 AM on June 15, 2009

I can't find the Plains of Rohan.
posted by rokusan at 10:38 AM on June 15, 2009 [2 favorites]

Who needs a map of the eastern Mediterranean when you've got Bibleland and the Creation Museum?

(Disclosure: I've no financial interest in either.)
posted by Man with Lantern at 11:36 AM on June 15, 2009

Fantastic! This is exactly the kind of thing I like to see. What I'm missing is a map-oriented browser, is there any easy way to look at a map and then find bible verses about the area you're looking at?

(Also, thanks for the post but talking about religion while clarifying "I'm not religious myself" is a bit like talking about gay stuff while clarifying "I'm not gay". It's not necessary.)
posted by Nelson at 11:54 AM on June 15, 2009

It'd be cool to see this applied to literature in general, especially foriegn books that take place in unfamiliar countries/cities. Ideally, it'd have such a comprehensive database you'd just type in the book's name and chapter, but even just a "find the setting(s)!" search for entire books/movies/etc would be cool.

Google did it.
posted by designbot at 12:26 PM on June 15, 2009

Nelson: "(Also, thanks for the post but talking about religion while clarifying "I'm not religious myself" is a bit like talking about gay stuff while clarifying "I'm not gay". It's not necessary.)"

Agreed. I ummed and ahhed about adding that line, but in the end decided to keep it. Not because I wanted to say "Hey everyone, I'm not religious, OK!?" but to say "Hey non-religious people who like playing around with maps! Don't dismiss this post because it's about the Bible! It's got some cool map stuff you'll like! Trust me, I know!"
posted by Effigy2000 at 1:44 PM on June 15, 2009

wow. this would have helped a lot with that biblical geography class i took last semester.
posted by fightoplankton at 6:58 PM on June 16, 2009