Hereford Mappa Mundi
In the days before modern exploration, there were many parts of the world that were unknown and unmapped. These uncharted regions seemed mysterious and dangerous to medieval mapmakers and sailors.
To warn people about venturing into these uncharted areas on their maps, cartographers would write phrases like “Here Be Dragons” or “Here are Monsters” in those blank spaces.The phrase “Here Be Dragons” comes from the medieval Latin phrase “Hic sunt dracones.” Dragons were mythical reptilian creatures that were feared and represented the dangers that could exist in unexplored territories.
By labeling unknown areas with ominous warnings, mapmakers were indicating that these blanc spaces on the maps represented potential risks and hazards that could threaten ships or travelers who dared to journey too far into unfamiliar lands and waters.In addition to dragons, they might illustrate these uncharted regions with drawings of sea monsters, mythical creatures from folklore, or sketches of what they imagined might exist in those unmapped places.
So the phrase “Here Be Dragons” served as both a literal warning about potential dangers as well as a symbolic representation of the fears surrounding the unmapped, unfamiliar world beyond the boundaries of traditional exploration and cartography.It highlighted the combination of very real risks but also the mythical unknown that existed until further voyages could accurately map those uncharted parts of the world.
History of Maps| Class 11 Geography
The document traces the remarkable 10,000-year journey of mapmaking, from the earliest cave drawings to modern digital maps. It highlights significant milestones in cartography, including the Babylonian Map of the World, Ptolemy’s Geographia, the Tabula Rogeriana, and the Mercator projection.
The evolution of maps reflects humanity’s relentless quest to understand and navigate the Earth.
Contact Us