Pietro Della Valle was a nobleman and traveler who embarked on a twelve-year journey across the Middle East and India in 1614. His life was defined by intellectual pursuits, ranging from early participation in military expeditions to an extensive documentation of cultures that informed his work as an author and composer in the seventeenth-century Papal States.
Early Life and Departure
Born in Rome on 2 April 1586, Della Valle moved in elite literary circles, holding memberships in the Accademia degli Umoristi and the Accademia dei Lincei. His decision to leave for the East followed a period of personal crisis. He departed Venice on 8 June 1614 with a vow to reach the Holy Land. His status as a distinguished nobleman allowed him to travel with a suite of nine people as he progressed through Constantinople, Alexandria, and Cairo.
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During his travels, he documented the location of ancient Babylon and returned to Europe with cuneiform-inscribed bricks from Nineveh and Ur. In 1616, he arrived in Jerusalem before moving to Baghdad. There, he married Sitti Maani Gioerida, a woman of Assyrian Christian and Armenian descent. The couple subsequently traveled through Persia, where they were hosted by Shah Abbas during his northern military campaigns.
Voyage to India and Return
Following the death of his wife in Persia, Della Valle traveled to India in 1623 on the ship Whale, captained by Nicholas Woodcock. He resided in Surat and Goa until late 1624, conducting ethnographic studies that included observations of Hindu customs and local governance. He returned to Rome on 28 March 1626, where Pope Urban VIII appointed him a gentleman of his bedchamber.
Musical and Literary Contributions
Della Valle was a composer who experimented with ancient musical modes, developing unique instruments like the violone panharmonico. His theoretical writings, such as his 1640 discourse on contemporary music, defended the Roman musical culture of his time. He authored numerous librettos and oratorios, leaving a diverse record of artistic output alongside his voluminous travel letters addressed to Mario Schipano.
Fast facts
- Born: 2 April 1586, Rome
- Died: 21 April 1652, Rome
- Citizenship: Papal States
- Burial site: Santa Maria in Aracoeli
- Spouses: Sitti Maani Gioerida; Mariuccia (Tinatin de Ziba)
- Travel departure date: 8 June 1614
- Member of: Accademia dei Lincei
Questions readers ask
What was Pietro Della Valle's contribution to archaeology?
He was the first modern Westerner to document mummy portraits in Egypt and brought the first cuneiform-inscribed bricks from Nineveh and Ur to Europe.
Did Pietro Della Valle hold any official positions?
Yes, he was a diplomat and was appointed a gentleman of the bedchamber by Pope Urban VIII after returning from his travels.
Achievements
- Recorded as explorer, composer and writer
