"Carta Marina" Map of Europe by Olafus Magnus (1539) History of the map / Translation of the author's explanations to the map

2024 Author: Seth Attwood | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-16 15:55

From the author of the blog - This is the so-called "ethereal map" (more about the ethereal maps of antiquity - but already "transitional" to a new, modern standard for us (starting from the 17-18 century)

MAP MARINA

(View the map in high resolution 5016 X 3715 at the click of a mouse -

~ A nautical description of a map of the northern countries and their wonders, meticulously completed in 1539

Olaus Magnus Gothus welcomes a noble reader. To be able to understand easily this map of the Scandinavian countries and the wonders that exist there (I have published this edition in honor of the esteemed Doge Pietro Lando and the Senate of Venice and for the general benefit of Christendom), you should know that it is divided into nine parts indicated in capital letters A, B, C, etc, and further that there are several smaller letters within the area of each large letter that indicate the matters briefly mentioned in the commentary.

Fragment A

Including the island of Iceland, famous for its extraordinary wonders; on this island, close to the lowercase letter * A * There are three mountains, their highest peaks, glittering with eternal snow and their bases blazing with eternal fire. B ~ Four springs of a completely different nature: the first, through its eternal heat, changes everything thrown into it, into a stone, keeping its original shape, the second is unbearably cold, the third on beer products, the fourth inhales further a destructive infection. C ~ fire that consumes water but does not burn the wick. D ~ White crows, falcons, magpies, bears, wolves and hares; yet there are also completely black wolves. E ~ ice sounding howling human voices and clearly indicating that human souls are tormented there. F ~ a piece of rock that appears to be flying through a large cloud of steam. G ~ a vast number of fish piled up for sale in a pile as high as open-air buildings. H ~ incredible amount of oil. I ~, the pasture is so lush that if the cattle are not prevented from overeating, they perish from overeating. K ~ Sea monsters, huge as mountains, capsize ships, unless they are frightened by the sound of trumpets or by throwing empty barrels into the sea. L ~ Sailors who anchor on the backs of monsters, thinking they are islands. They expose themselves to mortal danger.

The relatively large number of ships in this fragment indicates a brisk trade between Iceland and the rest of Europe, primarily with the Hansa. M. ~ The battle between the ships Hamburger and Scott (center left) can be explained by the trade rivalry between the Hansa and England and Scotland. Merchant ships attack each other to be the first in the harbor and provide better trade. Sea eddies (lower right quarter), not repeated in such numbers anywhere else on the map, point, according to Rossby and Miller, to the so-called Iceland-Faroes front, separating the warm waters of the Gulf Stream and the cold water flows from the north. The difference in water temperatures (5 ° C) creates a characteristic ripple on the surface that sailors could have informed Olaf Magnus about. N ~ Shields with the coats of arms of Norway and Iceland.

Fragment B

B includes first a part of Greenland, whose inhabitants shown beside the letter ~ are, depicted as highly skilled sailors, using leather boats that are safe no matter what might be in danger; using them, they attack and sink foreign ships. The logs periodically appearing off the coast of Greenland turned out to be of Siberian origin. The forest, carried by the rivers into the Arctic Ocean, freezes into the ice, drifts with it and melts in the Atlantic in warmer years B ~ Two colossal sea monsters, one with terrible teeth, the other with terrible horns and burning gaze ~ his eye circumference is 16 - 20 feet. C ~ a whale rocking a large ship, wanting to sink it. D ~ A 200-foot long worm wraps around a large ship, destroying it. It can be assumed that sea monsters are not accidentally attacking ships named Dani and Gothi from countries affected by the "Lutheran heresy" E ~ Rosmarus, an elephant seal, sleeps on the sea cliffs waiting for its sacrifice. F ~ Several terrifying whirlpools in the sea. G ~ The greedy and insatiable womb of a wolverine, freeing its belly by squeezing itself between the trees. H ~ a fisherman who hits the ice with the butt of an ax to stun and catch fish from under the ice. I ~ Reindeer are tamed flockwise and outperform the fastest horses when placed in front of the sleigh. K ~ Demons who have taken physical form to serve humans. L ~ a flock of domesticated reindeer providing milk for domestic use. And here they find gold.

Fragment C

C (under the caption) ~ forest people who attack sailors at night, but are nowhere to be seen during the day. B ~ Pagan worshipers worship as gods a piece of red cloth attached to the top of the pole. C ~ Starchaterus, Swedish fist fighter, very famous in ancient times throughout Europe. D ~ a magnetic island, 30 miles from the pole, outside of which the so-called compass loses power. E ~ a huge eagle wraps the eggs in skin, which it removes from a hare; protecting the chicks through its life-giving warmth. F ~ a large white lake (White Sea) where fish and birds are to be found in innumerable numbers and varieties. G ~ The marriage ceremony among the pagan worshipers performed with flints carved over the heads of the bridal couple. H ~ Sharing needs without using money. I Battle ~ between two kings, one of whom fights reindeer and uses foot soldiers on the curves of long woods (i.e., skis). The enemy dodges and retreats. He wins despite the fact that the other fights on horseback and is well armed. K ~ Reindeer pull the cart (sled) through snow and ice. L ~ Sea ice hunters in incredible abundance of salmon and spikes. M. ~ Marten, sable, ermine, various types of squirrels, a huge number of beavers are everywhere. N ~ Moscovite traders pulling their boats between lakes to make a bargain.

As you can see from the scenes depicted on the map, the Kola Peninsula - "Biarmia" (part C, upper right corner) belongs to the Russians who fish, hunt fur animals, trade, and also defend their territory from the enemy. The orientation of the armed detachments - the Scandinavians to the East, and the Russians to the West - is characteristic. The waters washing Biarmia are named by the cartographer - Okeanvs Scithicv (Scythian Ocean).

Fragment D

D shows the small island of Faroe, its fish-eating inhabitants degenerate. They share large sea animals thrown out by storms. B ~ Here raven heads are paid tribute to the governor of the area, as a sign that they have killed a bird of prey that kills sheep and lambs. C ~ When approaching this island, there is a high rock, which sailors call the Monk, which is an excellent protection against storms. D ~ Terrible sea monster Ziphius the seal eater. E ~ Another terrible monster, namn unknown, is hiding in the depths of the sea in that direction (that is, from the side of Ziphius). F ~ The island of Tyle is located here. G ~ Hetlandic (Shetlandic) The Scottish Islands (Hetland) are characterized as "the most fertile country with the most beautiful women."

… H ~ Orcadic (Orkney) islands, number of them 33, which in ancient times was called the kingdom. I ~ Ducks feed on fruits from trees. K ~ a sea monster like a pig.

Fragment E

E includes in the name of the island Scandia, from which in the past days the most powerful people came out into the whole world. B ~ On the shield of the Kingdom of Sweden: three crowns. C ~ shield with the coat of arms of the Kingdom of Norway: a lion armed with an ax. Oh ~ Here they are trying to measure the unfathomable depths of the sea. E ~ A rhino-like monster devours a lobster that is 12 feet long. F ~ The plates are fixed like shields to the horses' feet so that they do not slide down into the snow. G ~ Domesticated reindeer produce excellent milk. H ~ Lynxes eat wild cats. I ~ attack of wolves on moose, on ice. K ~ Pyramids and huge stones made by ancestors, they are described in Gothic letters. There is a sign for finds of iron and copper. There are reserves of excellent silver. L ~ the lake that never freezes. M. ~ sea snake, 30 or 40 feet long.

Fragment F

F Below small A: it often happens that the sea freezes over and is able to carry very heavy carts (sleds), and at the same time there is a navigable waterway next to their route to mariners who compete with carriages in speed. B ~ Wild donkeys or moose pull the sled swiftly through the snow. C ~ fight between shepherds and snakes. D ~ Cunning Pheasants and Woodcocks hide under the snow without food for several months. E ~ Other birds, completely white, snow-colored, never seen during winter. F ~ a black river of immeasurable depth; it only contains black fish, but they taste delicious. G ~ An outburst of unbearable noise when any living thing enters a Viborgian cave or void. H ~ beaver den, partly on land, partly in water; so they build houses by weaving the branches of trees. I ~ pelican, a bird as big as a goose, making very strong sounds with its water-filled throat. K ~ The otter is tamed to catch and bring fish to the cook. L ~ People move quickly across the endless frozen sea on (skates made of) bone under their feet. M. ~ A place for feasting called Kasa. N ~ During winter, military battles take place on ice, which, with the arrival of summer, becomes the sea again. On the ice of the Gulf of Finland (Mare Finonicum) a battle is taking place, apparently between the Swedes and the Russians from Muscovy (Moscovie). In the lower right corner, the Grand Duke of Moscow (Magnus Princeps Moscovitas) is depicted, in the year the map was published in Ivan the Terrible.

Fortress Ivan grot at the mouth of the river opposite Narva is obviously Ivangorod.

Fragment G

G gives a whole key to the map as well as parts of the kingdoms of England, Scotland and Holland.

Fragment H

H in the lower left part of the sheet is the old kingdom of Frisland, where there are excellent horses, and then the kingdom of Denmark, divided into many islands, inhabited by warlike inhabitants. B ~ the mighty and majestic cities of Vendic, whose harbors are permanently lit so that sailors can avoid the danger of wreckage on the rocky shores. C ~ Public housing once built right on the frozen sea. D ~ Amber collector on the coast of Prussia. E ~ the city of Danzig, inhabited by wealthy and honest citizens. F ~ favor of fish called rockas in Gothic and raya in Italian: They protect the swimming man and save him from being devoured by sea monsters. G ~ the kingdom of Gothia, the first home of the Goths. H ~ the island of Gotland, according to the etymology of its name, to the island of Goths, where even today the best sailors live. I Lights ~ lit on coastal mountains in wartime. K ~ The royal city of Stockholm, well protected by the art of fortification, natural formations and water. L ~ Mighty ships for the sea battle, equipped on all sides with a piece of iron protection.

Fragment I

I At the beginning of the sheet I contain ~ the country of Livonia, which is under the patronage of the German Blessed Virgin. B ~ Courland, on the coast of which shipwrecks often occur and the meager shores are given to the victims of the wrecks. C ~ Samogethia, the so-called after the settlement of the Goths there. D ~ Grand Duchy of Lithuania, under the King of Poland. Below in the center is the King of the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth in Sigismund (Sigismundus Rex Polonie Magnus Dux Lituanie).

The territory of modern Belarus on the map is divided into White Russia (Russia Alba) and Black Russia (Russia Nigra). E ~ shows a bison that easily picks up and defeats a man in full armor. F ~ Bears collecting honey from trees knock down the hives that were hung there by the bees. ~ Finally, the table gives the names of many peoples, which, according to the unanimous proof of the ancient authors, originate from the island of Scandia.

Banning the production of a card for a period of ten years (the card is titled The Geographia or Description of the Scandinavian Countries). This prohibition also applies to his books describing the Scandinavian countries. Anyone violating these rules is in danger of excommunication and a fine of 200 gold ducats. ~ After the description, it is noted that the card can be purchased from the Thomas de Rubis store on the Rialto Bridge in Venice.

(reposted from here -