Terra incognita or terra ignota (Latin "unknown land"; incognita is stressed on its second syllable in Latin, but with variation in pronunciation in English) is a term used in cartography for regions that have not been mapped or documented. The expression is believed to be first seen in Ptolemy's Geography c. 150. The term was reintroduced in the 15th century from the rediscovery of Ptolemy's work during the Age of Discovery. The equivalent on Frenchmaps would be terres inconnues (plural form), and some English maps may show Parts Unknown.
Map of North America from 1566 showing Italian inscriptions, both Terra In Cognita and Mare In Cognito
Similarly, uncharted or unknown seas would be labeled mare incognitum, Latin for "unknown sea".
An urban legend claims that cartographers labelled such regions with "Here be dragons". Although cartographers did claim that fantastic beasts (including large serpents) existed in remote corners of the world and depicted such as decoration on their maps, only one known surviving map, the Hunt–Lenox Globe, in the collection of the New York Public Library,[1] actually says "Here are dragons" (using the Latin form "HIC SVNT DRACONES").[2] However, ancient Roman and Medieval cartographers did use the phrase HIC SVNT LEONES (Here are lions) when denoting unknown territories on maps.[3]
During the 19th century, terra incognita disappeared from maps; both the coastlines and the inner parts of the continents became fully explored, even prior to the advent of aerial photography and satellite imagery in the 20th century. However, the bottoms of oceans remain mostly unmapped, as do many other land surfaces in the Solar System. For example, only 40% of the surface of Neptune's Moon Triton has been mapped with the remainder being terra incognita.[4]
The phrase is now used metaphorically to describe any unexplored subject or field of research.
Incognita: from Latin cognoscere 'to know, be acquainted with' (negated by the prefix 'in-'), which is related to English know and Greek γνῶσις gnosis 'knowledge'. Related English words include agnostic, cognition, gnosticism.
Vigia (nautical) – Warning on a nautical chart indicating an unsurveyed potential hazard
Terra nullius – International law term for unclaimed land
Notesedit
^. New York Public Library. pp. 207–208. Archived from the original on 20 November 2015. Retrieved 22 August 2006.
^"Here Be Dragons on Old Maps". MapHist. Retrieved 22 August 2006.
^Van Duzer, Chet (4 June 2014). "Bring on the Monsters and Marvels: Non-Ptolemaic Legends on Manuscript Maps of Ptolemy's Geography". Viator. 45 (2): 303–334. doi:10.1484/J.VIATOR.1.103923. ISSN 0083-5897.
^Carter, Jamie (10 September 2019). "Welcome To Triton, Neptune's Bizarre 'Wet Moon' That Could Change Where We Look For Alien Life". Forbes.
Referencesedit
Look up terra incognita in Wiktionary, the free dictionary.
Guide to the Research Collections 12 October 2005 at the Wayback Machine. pp. 207–208. New York Public Library.
December 20, 2023
terra, incognita, other, uses, disambiguation, terra, ignota, latin, unknown, land, incognita, stressed, second, syllable, latin, with, variation, pronunciation, english, term, used, cartography, regions, that, have, been, mapped, documented, expression, belie. For other uses see Terra incognita disambiguation Terra incognita or terra ignota Latin unknown land incognita is stressed on its second syllable in Latin but with variation in pronunciation in English is a term used in cartography for regions that have not been mapped or documented The expression is believed to be first seen in Ptolemy s Geography c 150 The term was reintroduced in the 15th century from the rediscovery of Ptolemy s work during the Age of Discovery The equivalent on French maps would be terres inconnues plural form and some English maps may show Parts Unknown Map of North America from 1566 showing Italian inscriptions both Terra In Cognita and Mare In CognitoSimilarly uncharted or unknown seas would be labeled mare incognitum Latin for unknown sea Contents 1 Details 2 Etymology 3 See also 4 Notes 5 ReferencesDetails editAn urban legend claims that cartographers labelled such regions with Here be dragons Although cartographers did claim that fantastic beasts including large serpents existed in remote corners of the world and depicted such as decoration on their maps only one known surviving map the Hunt Lenox Globe in the collection of the New York Public Library 1 actually says Here are dragons using the Latin form HIC SVNT DRACONES 2 However ancient Roman and Medieval cartographers did use the phrase HIC SVNT LEONES Here are lions when denoting unknown territories on maps 3 Alternatively terra incognita may also refer to the hypothesized continent Terra Australis Incognita The unknown land of the South as seen in the Theatrum Orbis Terrarum map by Abraham Ortelius 1570 During the 19th century terra incognita disappeared from maps both the coastlines and the inner parts of the continents became fully explored even prior to the advent of aerial photography and satellite imagery in the 20th century However the bottoms of oceans remain mostly unmapped as do many other land surfaces in the Solar System For example only 40 of the surface of Neptune s Moon Triton has been mapped with the remainder being terra incognita 4 The phrase is now used metaphorically to describe any unexplored subject or field of research Etymology editTerra Latin for earth or land Related English words include terrestrial territory and terrain Incognita from Latin cognoscere to know be acquainted with negated by the prefix in which is related to English know and Greek gnῶsis gnosis knowledge Related English words include agnostic cognition gnosticism For more history of the terms see Terra Australis and also Etymology at Australia See also edit nbsp Maps portal nbsp World portalEarly world maps List of early depictions of the world Fantasy map Study and creation of maps of imagined places or eventsPages displaying short descriptions of redirect targets History of cartography List of lost lands Islands or continents supposedly existing during prehistory having since disappeared Mappa mundi Medieval European maps of the world Vigia nautical Warning on a nautical chart indicating an unsurveyed potential hazard Terra nullius International law term for unclaimed landNotes edit Guide to the Research Collections Resources Elsewhere in the Collections New York Public Library pp 207 208 Archived from the original on 20 November 2015 Retrieved 22 August 2006 Here Be Dragons on Old Maps MapHist Retrieved 22 August 2006 Van Duzer Chet 4 June 2014 Bring on the Monsters and Marvels Non Ptolemaic Legends on Manuscript Maps of Ptolemy s Geography Viator 45 2 303 334 doi 10 1484 J VIATOR 1 103923 ISSN 0083 5897 Carter Jamie 10 September 2019 Welcome To Triton Neptune s Bizarre Wet Moon That Could Change Where We Look For Alien Life Forbes References edit nbsp Look up terra incognita in Wiktionary the free dictionary Guide to the Research Collections Archived 12 October 2005 at the Wayback Machine pp 207 208 New York Public Library Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Terra incognita amp oldid 1175650496, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
