20 Ancient Maps That Shouldn’t Exist
Explore 20 ancient maps that defy historical timelines and challenge our understanding of early cartography.
- Daisy Montero
- 5 min read
Throughout history, maps have served as tools for navigation and representations of the known world. However, some ancient maps depict lands and details that seemingly shouldn’t have been known at the time of their creation. This listicle delves into 20 such maps, each presenting mysteries that question the extent of ancient geographical knowledge.
1. The Piri Reis Map
Piri Reis on Wikimedia Commons
Created in 1513 by Ottoman admiral Piri Reis, this map astonishingly depicts parts of the South American coastline with remarkable accuracy. What’s more perplexing is its portrayal of Antarctica, a continent not officially discovered until centuries later, and shown without its ice cover.
2. The Buache Map
http://www.geographicus.com/mm5/cartographers/jnbuache.txt on Wikimedia Commons
Published in 1739 by French geographer Philippe Buache, this map intriguingly shows Antarctica’s subglacial topography, suggesting knowledge of the continent’s landmass beneath the ice. Such detail predates modern surveys by over a century.
3. The Zeno Map
Nicolo Zeno on Wikimedia Commons
Dating back to 1558, the Zeno Map portrays parts of the North Atlantic, including Greenland and Iceland, with surprising precision. It also features phantom islands, fueling debates about its origins and the extent of early exploration.
4. The Vinland Map
Yale University Press on Wikimedia Commons
Allegedly from the 15th century, this map depicts a landmass labeled ‘Vinland’ west of Europe, suggesting Norse exploration of North America before Columbus. Its authenticity remains a topic of scholarly debate.
5. The Da Vinci Map
Leonardo da Vinci on Wikimedia Commons
Leonardo da Vinci’s 1502 map of Imola showcases an unprecedented level of detail and accuracy for its time. Utilizing innovative surveying techniques is a testament to his genius in cartography.
6. The Kangnido Map
Kim Sahyung, Lee Moo, Lee Hui on Wikimedia Commons
Created in 1402 in Korea, the Kangnido Map integrates knowledge from China, Korea, and Islamic regions, presenting a comprehensive view of the world, including Africa and Europe, long before Western maps did.
7. The Tabula Rogeriana
Konrad Miller on Wikimedia Commons
Compiled by Arab geographer Al-Idrisi in 1154, this map was one of the most advanced of its time, showcasing detailed knowledge of Europe, Asia, and North Africa, challenging the notion of a Eurocentric cartographic history.
8. The Waldseemüller Map
Martin Waldseemüller on Wikimedia Commons
Published in 1507, this map is notable for being the first to use the name ‘America’, attributing the discovery to Amerigo Vespucci. It presents a separate western continent, a revolutionary concept at the time.
9. The Ebstorf Map
Unknown author on Wikimedia Commons
This 13th-century mappa mundi places Jerusalem at its center, reflecting the medieval worldview. Its detailed illustrations of cities, animals, and biblical events offer insights into the era’s geographical understanding.
10. The Hereford Mappa Mundi
Unknown author on Wikimedia Commons
Dating to around 1300, this map combines geography, history, and mythology. It depicts the world as known to medieval Europeans, blending real locations with biblical and mythical elements.
11. The Da Ming Hun Yi Tu
Chinese (image enhanced by contributor) on Wikimedia Commons
Created in the late 14th century, this Chinese map integrates knowledge from various sources, depicting Africa, Europe, and Asia with surprising accuracy, highlighting the global awareness of Ming China.
12. The Psalter Map
Unknown author on Wikimedia Commons
This 13th-century map, found in a psalter, symbolizes the world with the East at the top. Its inclusion in a religious manuscript underscores the intertwining of geography and theology in medieval thought.
13. The Carta Marina
Olaus Magnus on Wikimedia Commons
Published in 1539 by Olaus Magnus, this detailed map of Scandinavia features accurate coastlines alongside mythical sea creatures. Its combination of realism and folklore paints a vivid picture of 16th-century knowledge and belief.
14. The Reinel Map
The Reinel Map on Wikimedia Commons
Drawn by Jorge Reinel in the early 1500s, this map illustrates the Indian Ocean with notable precision. It shows how Portuguese explorers had access to geographic data that seemed advanced for the era.
15. The Dulcert Portolan Chart
Angelino Dalorto (or Dulcert/Dulceto/Dulceti) on Wikimedia Commons
Created in 1339, this early nautical chart by Angelino Dulcert includes detailed coastlines of Europe and North Africa. Its clarity and accuracy suggest knowledge possibly passed down from ancient seafarers.
16. The Catalan Atlas
Cresques Abraham on Pexels
Produced in 1375, the Catalan Atlas combines geographic precision with rich storytelling, including routes of Marco Polo and Mansa Musa. It reflects a global curiosity well beyond Europe’s borders.
17. The Fra Mauro Map
Fra Mauro (W. Fraser) on Wikimedia Commons
Completed around 1450, this Venetian map is oriented with south at the top and depicts Africa’s shape with surprising accuracy. It implies knowledge of circumnavigation routes long before they were officially charted.
18. The Pei Xiu Map
Huangdan2060 on Wikimedia Commons
Known as the ‘father of Chinese cartography,’ Pei Xiu introduced a grid system in the 3rd century. His work laid the foundation for mathematical mapping long before it spread to the West.
19. The Idrisi World Map
al-Idrisi on Wikimedia Commons
Also part of the Tabula Rogeriana, Al-Idrisi’s map stunned Europe with its scope in the 12th century. It challenged the dominant worldview and included regions barely known to the West.
20. The Babylonian World Map
EvgenyGenkin on Wikimedia Commons
Dating to the 6th century BCE, this clay tablet is one of the earliest known world maps. It shows Babylon at the center, surrounded by a circular ocean, blending myth and geography in ancient Mesopotamian style.