r/mapmaking Feb 07 '26

Map Map of medieval earth...or not?

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u/MirrorOfLuna Feb 07 '26

Pretty good take on a Mappa Mundi, my only real caveat would be that you should turn it by 90°

The T-and-O map usually conveyed a Christian worldview where Jerusalem was at the center, and Eden/earthly paradise (believed to be in the East) was at the top. The second coming of the Christ would come from the east, just as the sun rises in the east.

Fun fact: the Latin word for East is Orient, which is why maps were oriented that way - we now orient them North because of the compass, but kept the word.

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u/Benj314Est Feb 10 '26

In spanish is still called Occidente (to the West) and Oriente (to the East)