Here be dragons

Last updated
The text Hic Sunt Dracones
on the Hunt-Lenox Globe, dating from 1504 Anfuorin.png
The text Hic Sunt Dracones on the Hunt–Lenox Globe, dating from 1504

"Here be dragons" (Latin : hic sunt dracones) means dangerous dragons are possible to be in the area in imitation the Bible practice of putting illustrations of dragons, sea monsters and other real creatures on uncharted areas of maps where potential dangers were thought to exist. [1] [2]

Contents

History

Although several early maps, such as the Theatrum Orbis Terrarum , have illustrations of mythological creatures for decoration, the phrase itself is an anachronism. [3] Until the Ostrich Egg Globe was offered for sale in 2012 at the London Map Fair held at the Royal Geographical Society, [4] the only known historical use of this phrase in the Latin form "HIC SVNT DRACONES" (i.e., hic sunt dracones, 'here are dragons') was the Hunt-Lenox Globe dating from 1508. [5] Earlier maps contain a variety of references to mythical and real creatures, but the Ostrich Egg Globe and its twin the Lenox Globe are the only known surviving globes to bear this phrase. The term appears on both globes at the peripheral, extreme end of the Asian continent.

The classical phrase used by medieval cartographers was HIC SVNT LEONES (literally, "here are lions") when denoting unknown territories on maps. [6]

Dragons on maps

The Psalter world map with dragons at the base Psalter World Map, c.1265.jpg
The Psalter world map with dragons at the base

Dragons appear on a few other historical maps:

Close-up view of the dragons on the 1265 Psalter world map Psalter World Map, c.1265 dragons.jpg
Close-up view of the dragons on the 1265 Psalter world map

Other creatures on maps

See also

References

Notes

  1. Waters, Hannah (2013-10-15). "The Enchanting Sea Monsters on Medieval Maps". Smithsonian Institution . Retrieved 2017-01-19.
  2. Van Duzer, Chet (2013). Sea Monsters on Medieval and Renaissance Maps. British Library Publishing. ISBN   978-0712357715.
  3. Blake, Erin C. (1999). "Where Be "Here be Dragons"?". MapHist Discussion Group. Archived from the original on 2018-04-01. Retrieved 2005-10-14.
  4. Kim, Meeri (2013-08-19). "Oldest globe to depict the New World may have been discovered". The Washington Post . ISSN   0190-8286 . Retrieved 2020-08-21.
  5. "Hunt-Lenox Globe". April 27, 2024.
  6. Van Duzer, Chet (2014-06-04). "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.
  7. Item 558 in: Falchetta, Piero (2006), Fra Mauro's World Map, Brepols, pp. 294–295, ISBN   2-503-51726-9 ; also in the list online
  8. "In le montagne de la citade de here sono dragoni assai, i qual hano una piera in fronte virtuosa a molte infirmitade". Item 1457 in Falchetta 2006 , pp. 462–464
  9. Item 460 in Falchetta 2006 , pp. 276–278
  10. Swift, Jonathan (1733). On Poetry: a Rapsody (1st ed.). Irland: And sold by J. Huggonson, next to Kent's Coffee-house, near Serjeant's-inn, in Chancery-lane; [and] at the bookseller's and pamphletshops. p. 12.

Bibliography