Erdapfel

The Behaim globe, also called Behaimscher Erdapfel, is the oldest surviving terrestrial globe of the world. It was manufactured approximately 1492-1493 on behalf of the Nuremberg Council of different craftsmen under the guidance of the Knight Martin Behaim. The globe is now on display in Nuremberg in the Germanic National Museum. He is one of the last cartographic works that represent the known world before the re- discovery of America by Christopher Columbus in 1492.

• 2.1 Ancient and Medieval Sources
• 2.2 Behaim Travel

Formation

Behalf of the Nuremberg Council

Behaim received in 1492 on his own initiative from the Nuremberg council commissioned to produce a globe, which should reflect the then- known world. This is evident both from an accounting of the Council as well as from a dedication inscription on the south pole of the globe. The motivations Behaim, which led to the production of the globe can only be guessed. It is believed that the seafaring and trading businessman tried to bring the Nuremberg merchants, the idea of ​​a boat expedition to search for a sea route to India by a western route closer or general enthusiasm for maritime trade. The globe should make these ideas through its three-dimensional shape " tangible". Moreover, the places of origin of various trade goods were listed on the globe.

Craftsman

In the settlement of the councilor George Wood Schuher from August 26, 1494 the following persons are named as artisans of the Behaim globe:

• Hans Stork, registered under the name of Starch
• Ruprecht Kolberger
• Georg Glockendon
• Peter Gage Hart

Hans Glockengiesser delivered as a skilled metal and bell founder a burnt clay ball that served as a mold for the globe. Ruprecht Kolberger, by profession Reckoner, made ​​to the body of the globe, the book of the painter and Illuminist George Glockendon painted and which was probably inscribed by the writer Peter Gage Hart. The painter Hans Stork is remunerated according to the accounting for painting of two wooden panels. Whether and in what context these panels are connected to the world, is unknown, since the panels are not preserved. In addition, provided an unknown Locksmith two iron hoops, which served for attachment of the globe, while an unknown carpenter anfertigte a wooden stand for the globe.

Production

The globe has been examined several times during its history and rendered its production technology in many different ways. It was only a technical examination and radiography of the globe in 1977 yielded reliable findings. About supplied by Hans Glockengiesser clay ball Ruprecht Kohlberger raised four layers of linen, which he glued all. After the glue had dried and the fabric had stretched around the ball of clay, this was cut later in the equator. Is removed the clay ball, a layer canvas sewed to the interior of the globe and attached to the tire equator, two timber -sections of the individual ball halves in order to maintain the spherical shape. After assembling the globe halves Kohlberger plated ball with a total of eight pieces of parchment ( Two Polka Lotten and six segments) that have been stitched together. This was followed by a layer of parchment paper, which has been coated with glue. In this layer Georg Glockendon painted then the world according to the maps and specifications Behaim. In 1510 the wooden base was replaced by a cast iron frame with horizon ring, which is still preserved today.

Sources for the Erdapfel

Behaim used for the creation of the world view of different sources, which he surrendered to some extent in the inscriptions on the globe.

Ancient and Medieval Sources

Behaim's main source was the Geographike Hyphegesis of Claudius Ptolemy of Alexandria, which was a standard work in the field of geography and cartography at times Behaim. The influence of the work is mainly seen in the dimensions of the continents on the globe. About Ptolemy addition Behaim names nor the Naturalis historia Pliny the Elder and the geography of Strabo, which were the main source, especially for the islands of the Indian Ocean. Behaim used as contemporary sources, the travel accounts of Marco Polo and the fictional reports of Jehan de Mandeville, who were at that time still regarded as genuine. They were mainly for the countries that were the ancient authors still unknown, Godfather.

Behaim Travel

A significant contribution to the cartography of the globe made ​​Martin Behaim himself, though this post is also highly controversial. In inscriptions along the west coast of Africa on the globe Behaim reports of his participation in a tour of the Portuguese navigator Diogo Cão in the years 1484 and 1485th in the Schedel's World Chronicle by Hartmann Schedel from 1493, however, there is talk of a trip in a years 1483rd This information, however, can not be true because of preserved letters we Behaim that the trained clothier 1483 a Mass attended in Bergen op Zoom and he absendete a letter from Antwerp in 1484. Thus separates participation Behaim at the first of two trips to Africa caos, because this lasted from 1482 bis 1483/1484. Thus, only the second time would ride in question. From Schedel's World Chronicle shows that Behaim was said to be next to Cão commander on that ride. However, it is not on any of the stone marking columns that made up Cão at prominent points along the coast, the name Behaim, although other travel companions are named. This seems for the high rank, the Behaim should have held on the ride, very unusual and speaks much more that Behaim has not participated in any travel Diogo Cao's, but was competed on another journey Portuguese navigator, the CAOS route along the west coast followed. The experiences on this trip could well be incorporated into the cartographic image of the globe with, either through personal accounts or through acquired charts. However, precise statements to Behaim trips can not be made.

Cartographic value

The geographic accuracy of the globe varies from continent to continent and depends strongly on the sources used. Since you relied on the circumference of the earth to Ptolemy, it took so automatically the wrong calculation of the earth's circumference of Posidonius and not the right of Eratosthenes. This means that e.g. the Mediterranean Sea in relation to the earth too long and the continents of Europe and Asia have got too big. This led automatically to a reduction of the Atlantic Ocean. So a subsequent insertion of the newly discovered America from the outset was not possible.

In the continents of Europe itself is together with the Mediterranean Sea on the most accurate playing. Africa is depicted in great detail, especially on the north and west coasts, suggesting the Behaim along on the trip on board a Portuguese vessel or on the acquisition of a Portuguese sea chart by Behaim either. The east coast, however, is only shown very inaccurate. The farther one goes eastward, the more distorted the image. The Indian subcontinent is hardly recognizable as such and the Pacific adorn a variety of mythical islands.

Digitization of the globe

The globe has been digitized twice. The first time was on the occasion of the 500th anniversary of the completion of the globe in 1992 by the Institute of Photogrammetry and Remote Sensing at the Technical University of Vienna. 2011 has begun with a new digitization of the globe by the Germanic National Museum.