Portolan chart

The term PORTOLAN, also called Portulan (from the Italian portolano, derived from the Latin Portus " port " ), the use of which is occupied for the first time for the year 1285, designated originally a book of nautical information such as landmarks, lighthouses, currents and port conditions. The Portolanos formed the basis for the later to North Europe -reaching development of nautical books. From the 16th century the term meaning is expanded and encompassed henceforth not only the text but also its accompanying charts. In the 19th century, scholars began to refer to all the old charts with the term " Portolan ". Since the second half of the 20th century specialists restrict the term " Portolan " on the text and speak at charts of a certain type of " portolan ".

Formation and form

The question of their origin is controversial, as secured applies, however, that the medieval portolans back to ancient Umschiffungsbeschreibungen ( Periplus, " periploi " or " Limenes "). The oldest recorded Portolankarte, the " Pisan map ", dates from the last quarter of the 13th century. It was created at the same time as the first medieval PORTOLAN, the " Compasso da navegare ". The early portolans consisted primarily of the Mediterranean and the Black Sea. Portolan the 13th and 14th century are drawn on parchment and run either as bound atlases or as individual cards. In the larger -sized single cards mostly the writing material was preserved animal skin (see illustrations).

Characteristics

An important feature of portolan is the visible line network, however, is not due to the design of the card, but is used to determine his course by compass. This line network consists of different colored lines, also called Rumbenlinien that radiate from both the center of the map as well as 16 points uniformly distributed on a circle ( " wind roses " ), which is why this card type is referred to as wind -rays or Rumbenkarte. The lines of the four main cardinal points are black, that of the half - winds green, which entered the quarter - winds red. This traditional color scheme was maintained for more than four centuries unchanged.

Use

The Portolan have a different orientation, they are not always north oriented. The sailor who used the card, she turned in the direction of the course pursued in each case. Hazardous passages were highlighted on the map and with entries such as " Watch out! " Or commented on " Open the Eye". The berths were in different colored ink, depending on their importance, registered. If it were not enough that the information contained on the card, the sailor could take the text of the Portolans with its detailed information on hand.

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