The map is circular with a diameter of 410 mm. It is drawn on a piece of parchment 696×440 mm which also includes a calendar and two tables. One table was for calculating lunar changes, the other the date of Easter.[1]
The map is oriented to the North, with a wind rose centered in Central Asia, possibly the observatory of Ulugh Beg in the Mongol city of Samarkand in Uzbekistan, or the western shore of the Caspian sea. The wind rose divides the map into eight sectors.
The map is colored: the seas are left white, although the Red Sea is colored in red. Continental land is colored in yellow, and several colors are used for islands. The mountains are in brown, the lakes are in blue, and rivers are in brown.
The extension shows a calendar with depictions of the signs of the zodiac and a table to calculate lunar positions.
The map is generally consistent with the Fra Mauro map (1457), also drawn before the rounding of the Cape of Good Hope, which is currently on display in Venice.
Regions
The ocean surrounding the continental mass bears the mention "Mari Oziano Magno".
Jerusalem is indicated (Jordan and Gorlan), although not at the exact center of the map. The three continents are rather clearly represented, and labeled "Europa", "Africa" and "Axia". The Indian Ocean contains many colored islands, in a style reminiscent of Arab maps.
Atlantic Ocean
The Canaries and the Azores are depicted, showing an influence by Genoese and Catalan nautical maps.[2]
The Garden of Eden is depicted at the southernmost tip of Africa with the symbol of two concentric rings, from which emerge the four rivers mentioned in Genesis.
Asia
The locations described in Asia are consistent with Mongolian rule: Medru, Calcar, Monza sede di sedre ("the Mangi of northern China"), and Bogar Tartarorum ("the Great Bulgarian" or "Golden Horde"). On the emplacement of Karakorum, fortifications are depicted, with the mention "M[on]gol". The names shown for Chinese rivers and cities are those used by Marco Polo.
The shores of the Indian Ocean contain show the kingdoms of Mimdar and Madar (Malabar?) and probably Sri Lanka with the mention "Ysola d alegro suczimcas magna". A large island in the Indian Ocean labelled "Caparu sive Java magna" possibly combines Marco Polo's descriptions of Java and Japan.[3]
Europe
In northern Europe, various places are mentioned, such as "Ogama, Goga" Gog and Magog, "Rotenia" Russia, Naia, Samolica, and a peninsula or promontory showing the southern end of "Norveca" Norway. Iceland/Thule is not named or shown on the map.[4]
History of the map
The map was re-discovered in a second-hand bookshop in 1911 in Šibenik, Croatia by Albert Figdor, an art collector. Albert Figdor died 1927 in Vienna. The map was analyzed by Doctor Professor Franz von Wieser, of the University of Vienna. Authenticated photographs were taken, which are today in the British Library.
In literature, there are hints that the map was retracted from the auction (piece no. 56, 14/15.June 1932) by the auction-house Gilhofer and Ranschburg (Alpenstrasse nr.6) in Lucerne. The story is not clear. The map later disappeared with its owners a Jewish family from Heidelberg.[5]
^De Smet, Antoine "Monumenta Cartographica Vetustioris Aevi, Vol. I. Mappaemundi. Mappemondes A. D. 1200–1500. Catalogue préparé par la Commission des Cartes Anciennes de l'Union Géographique Internationale by Marcel Destombes" Imago Mundi Vol. 22 (1968), pp. 121–126 [1]
^De Smet, Antoine "Monumenta Cartographica Vetustioris Aevi, Vol. I. Mappaemundi. Mappemondes A. D. 1200–1500. Catalogue préparé par la Commission des Cartes Anciennes de l'Union Géographique Internationale by Marcel Destombes" Imago Mundi Vol. 22 (1968), pp. 121–126 [2]
^Edson, Evelyn The World Map, 1300–1492 The Johns Hopkins University Press; illustrated edition (30 May 2007) ISBN978-0-8018-8589-1 p. 88
^Seaver, Kirsten "Cartographic controversy: Albertin de Virga and the Far North" Mercator's World 2:6, 1997
^Edson, Evelyn, The world map, 1300-1492. The persistence of tradition and transformation. Johns Hopkins University Press, London 2007, ISBN0-8018-8589-2, pp. 76, 252.
Sources
"Mappemondes, AD 1200–1500", Destombes
Further reading
Dürst, Arthur (1996). "Die Weltkarte von Albertin de Virga von 1411 oder 1415" [The world map by Albertin de Virga of 1411 or 1415]. Cartographica Helvetica (in German) (13): 18–21. ISSN 1015-8480.
External links
Henry Davis Monograph
January 29, 2023
virga, world, made, albertinus, virga, between, 1411, 1415, contains, mention, small, letters, 1411, 1415, albertin, diuirga, fecit, vinexia, made, albertinius, virga, venice, last, digit, date, erased, fold, albertinus, virga, venetian, also, known, 1409, med. The De Virga world map was made by Albertinus de Virga between 1411 and 1415 The map contains a mention in small letters The De Virga world map 1411 1415 A 141 Albertin diuirga me fecit in vinexia Made by Albertinius de Virga in Venice in 141 the last digit of the date is erased by a fold in the map Albertinus de Virga a Venetian is also known for a 1409 map of the Mediterranean also made in Venice The map disappeared together with its owners a Jewish family from Heidelberg at the end of the 1930s Contents 1 Structure 2 Regions 2 1 Atlantic Ocean 2 2 Africa 2 3 Asia 2 4 Europe 3 History of the map 4 See also 5 References 6 Sources 7 Further reading 8 External linksStructure Edit The full map with calendar plates The map is circular with a diameter of 410 mm It is drawn on a piece of parchment 696 440 mm which also includes a calendar and two tables One table was for calculating lunar changes the other the date of Easter 1 The map is oriented to the North with a wind rose centered in Central Asia possibly the observatory of Ulugh Beg in the Mongol city of Samarkand in Uzbekistan or the western shore of the Caspian sea The wind rose divides the map into eight sectors The map is colored the seas are left white although the Red Sea is colored in red Continental land is colored in yellow and several colors are used for islands The mountains are in brown the lakes are in blue and rivers are in brown The extension shows a calendar with depictions of the signs of the zodiac and a table to calculate lunar positions The map is generally consistent with the Fra Mauro map 1457 also drawn before the rounding of the Cape of Good Hope which is currently on display in Venice Regions EditThe ocean surrounding the continental mass bears the mention Mari Oziano Magno Jerusalem is indicated Jordan and Gorlan although not at the exact center of the map The three continents are rather clearly represented and labeled Europa Africa and Axia The Indian Ocean contains many colored islands in a style reminiscent of Arab maps Atlantic Ocean Edit The Canaries and the Azores are depicted showing an influence by Genoese and Catalan nautical maps 2 Africa Edit Africa contains depictions of the Atlas mountains and the Nile river with mention of the territory of Prester John Pre Joanes in Ethiopia The Garden of Eden is depicted at the southernmost tip of Africa with the symbol of two concentric rings from which emerge the four rivers mentioned in Genesis Asia Edit The locations described in Asia are consistent with Mongolian rule Medru Calcar Monza sede di sedre the Mangi of northern China and Bogar Tartarorum the Great Bulgarian or Golden Horde On the emplacement of Karakorum fortifications are depicted with the mention M on gol The names shown for Chinese rivers and cities are those used by Marco Polo The shores of the Indian Ocean contain show the kingdoms of Mimdar and Madar Malabar and probably Sri Lanka with the mention Ysola d alegro suczimcas magna A large island in the Indian Ocean labelled Caparu sive Java magna possibly combines Marco Polo s descriptions of Java and Japan 3 Europe Edit In northern Europe various places are mentioned such as Ogama Goga Gog and Magog Rotenia Russia Naia Samolica and a peninsula or promontory showing the southern end of Norveca Norway Iceland Thule is not named or shown on the map 4 History of the map EditThe map was re discovered in a second hand bookshop in 1911 in Sibenik Croatia by Albert Figdor an art collector Albert Figdor died 1927 in Vienna The map was analyzed by Doctor Professor Franz von Wieser of the University of Vienna Authenticated photographs were taken which are today in the British Library In literature there are hints that the map was retracted from the auction piece no 56 14 15 June 1932 by the auction house Gilhofer and Ranschburg Alpenstrasse nr 6 in Lucerne The story is not clear The map later disappeared with its owners a Jewish family from Heidelberg 5 See also EditAncient world maps Fra Mauro map 1421 hypothesisReferences Edit De Smet Antoine Monumenta Cartographica Vetustioris Aevi Vol I Mappaemundi Mappemondes A D 1200 1500 Catalogue prepare par la Commission des Cartes Anciennes de l Union Geographique Internationale by Marcel Destombes Imago Mundi Vol 22 1968 pp 121 126 1 De Smet Antoine Monumenta Cartographica Vetustioris Aevi Vol I Mappaemundi Mappemondes A D 1200 1500 Catalogue prepare par la Commission des Cartes Anciennes de l Union Geographique Internationale by Marcel Destombes Imago Mundi Vol 22 1968 pp 121 126 2 Edson Evelyn The World Map 1300 1492 The Johns Hopkins University Press illustrated edition 30 May 2007 ISBN 978 0 8018 8589 1 p 88 Seaver Kirsten Cartographic controversy Albertin de Virga and the Far North Mercator s World 2 6 1997 3 Edson Evelyn The world map 1300 1492 The persistence of tradition and transformation Johns Hopkins University Press London 2007 ISBN 0 8018 8589 2 pp 76 252 Sources Edit Mappemondes AD 1200 1500 DestombesFurther reading EditDurst Arthur 1996 Die Weltkarte von Albertin de Virga von 1411 oder 1415 The world map by Albertin de Virga of 1411 or 1415 Cartographica Helvetica in German 13 18 21 ISSN 1015 8480 External links EditHenry Davis Monograph Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title De Virga world map amp oldid 1066525879, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
