Characteristics in Common

The directions indicated by the network originated with the winds, whose names have a long history. In the time of the poet Homer the four winds were the cardinal directions with the north wind, Boreas blowing up rough waves; Notus, the south wind, causing sudden storms; Zephryus, the west and Eurus, the east winds. The prophet Jeremiah also speaks of "the four winds from the four corners of heaven" (Jeremiah 49: 36). The Norse had eight winds: North, Land-North (NE), East-Dawn, Land-South (SE), South-Midday; Out-South (SW); West-Sunset; Out-North (NW).

In the fifteenth century, in early printed editions of Ptolemy's Geographia, twelve "windheads" were commonly shown with faces depicting characteristics of the winds. For example, an old man in the north depicted Boreas.

link to red sea 1489

See Ptolemy's windheads.


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