The Ebstorf Map: tradition and contents of a medieval picture of the world

摘要

The Ebstorf Map (Wilke, 2001; Kugler, 2007; Wolf, 2004, 2006, 2007, 2009a,b), the largest medieval map of the world whose original has been lost, isnot only a geographical map. In the Middle Ages, a map contained mystic,historical and religious motifs. Of central importance is Jesus Christ, who,in the Ebstorf Map, is part of the earth. The Ebstorf Map contains theknowledge of the time of its creation; it can be used for example as anatlas, as a chronicle of the world, or as an illustrated Bible.