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ISSN 1039-3498 | no. 48| December 2000
Gazes,
Santini and the Sydney 2000 Paralympics
recent map acquisitions
The last two months have been exciting with respect to new additions to the Librarys map collection.
Unusual, very rare and of large proportions, Anthimos Gazes wall map of the World is a significant acquisition for the National Library. Published in Venice in 1800, the map titled: Atlas e charte geographikes ton dyo Hemisphairion mela diaphoron Thesontes sphairos demonstrates a cartographic skill and knowledge of the world generally only associated with the British and French who dominated cartographic knowledge at that time.
Presented entirely in early Greek, the double hemispherical map is surrounded by smaller globes, spheres, astronomical diagrams and historical and contemporary map projections. Finely engraved vignettes surround the spaces but leave room for an engraving of Wallachia and a portrait either of Gazes himself or his Superior Bishop in Wallachia.
The map is one of a set of large maps, which also include Europe, Asia, Greece and Magnesia (Thessaly), produced between 1800-1805. They were engraved by the Viennese engraver Karl Schindlemayer and published by the Archimandrite (or superior priest of the Eastern orthodox religion) Anthimos Gazes. Wallachia and Romania were geographically part of the Ottoman Empire but the Orthodox Church and Greek language held influence over much of Eastern Europe, despite the political presence of the Turks.
Francis Santinis Nouvelle Mappe Monde dediée au progrés de nos connoissances is a classic French, double hemisphere map of the world published in Venice in 1784, but with an interesting twist. Instead of the usual eastern and western hemispheres, the hemispheres represent the maritime and terrestrial perspectives of the world. Australia, with a pre-Cook representation, takes prominent place in the left-hand hemisphere with the projection radiating from the South Pole. South America is split across the two hemispheres as it is also incorporated into the terrestrial hemisphere on the right, with the centre of the sphere and prime meridian passing through Paris.
The map is surrounded by wreaths of flowers and a figure welcoming the sun, encased in a border above a panel of text in beautifully scripted text explaining the representation of the hemispheres.
In sharp contrast to the rare maps, but no less significant was the
acquisition of a set of 11 braille maps representing the venues of the
Sydney 2000 Paralympics. Produced by the Canberra Blind Society, the maps,
with accompanying maps for the visually abled, are a unique reminder of
the Games which played an important part in Australias sporting
calendar this year.
Maura OConnor
Above: Anthimos Gaze Atlas e charte geographikes ton dyo Hemispharion mela diaphoron Thesontes sphairos Venice, 1800. From the Map Collection
Please address any comments and enquiries to The Editor, Gateways: dthomas@nla.gov.au