The Psalter World Map, c. 1260 Photo: Atlas Obscura / Public Domain/Wikipedia Commons)
East is placed at the top. The sun and moon hold lush forests. Jerusalem is the center of the world. And dragons hold the globe up at the bottom. But there is one aspect of the Psalter World Map, created in the 1260s, that is even stranger: a line-up of grotesque men located near Africa, two of whom have faces in their chests.
Blemmyae
These monsters, called blemmyae, were actually based on the writings of Classical authors such as Pliny the Elder. In The Natural History, penned in 77 AD, Pliny wrote of the members of a North African tribe who were “said to have no heads, their mouths and eyes being seated in their breasts.”
Over 1500 years later, authors were still talking about these chest-faced men. In Othello, none other than Shakespeare wrote of
men whose heads
Do grow beneath their shoulders
Whether these hapless chaps are meant to symbolize the variety of God’s creatures, or if they were placed at the edge of the map to symbolically remove them from God’s world, is a matter of debate. To the Christians of medieval England, the headless men were particularly interesting for the fact that they tested their ethics and credulity. As Alixe Bovey, a medievalist at the British Library where the Psalter map is held, writes:
monsters were often used to define boundaries and to express a distinction between morality and sin—or conformity and nonconformity.
You can read part I of Monster-Spotting in this blog, or find out more about the Psalter World Map in Atlas Obscura.
This post concludes a multi-part series of posts on ancient and Medieval wonders, to celebrate my 99c Pearseus: Rise of the Prince promo. As Pearseus has been described as “Ancient Greece in space,” it seemed strangely appropriate.
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I often wonder about some of the claims made in these times, Nick. What drove these guys to invent and lie about fantastic creatures? Are we talking about the medieval equivalent of Facebook status updates?
Even worse, Tara. We’re talking Twitter status here.
One word for this: phantasmagorical! The artwork is gorgeous but the story behind it is even more interesting. This series of posts is wonderful
Thank you so much! 😀
I wonder if in a thousand years, our descendents will wonder about the strange things we do and think. Seems almost a given 🙂 Another interesting post, Nicholas.
Thank you, D! I’m sure they will. Which is why we should all start burying weird stuff in the garden 🙂
Ha ha ha. Good idea 🙂
Just bury that broken toaster in the back yard, and chuckle.
Future archaeologist #1: Why is there a metal box buried behind the house?
Future archaeologist #2: It must have religious significance. We can safely assume it was a totem of some sort.
Future archaeologist #1: Doesn’t it look like a toaster?
Future archaeologist #2: Perhaps it was an offering to the god of burnt toast. Since it was buried in the ground, it’s obvious this was an underworld deity.
LOL True!
A truly amazing relic that is not only a work of art in itself, but tells us so much about the role of religion in the past. And of course, very few people would have seen it, or been able to understand it if they had.
Best wishes, Pete.
Very true! Thank you, Pete 🙂
Fascinating, Nick! I love these old maps. Interesting that East was at the top. And hard to believe that any sane being could actually believe in such creatures, but then in Medieval times, people did become so superstitious and fearful of the Devil and his minions. Its a beautiful piece of artwork though, and an intriguing sight into the thinking of the day.
I’m so glad you enjoyed it, Ali. Are you still around here?
Just back in Ireland on Tuesday. Crete was fab! Really missing it.
We miss you, too 🙂
Thank you! ?
Hello stranger! I finished my first draft of my new book so I back now. Great post!
Yay! Welcome back 🙂
I’ve been reading your posts on my email, so I’ve disappeared from your blog myself. Apologies – although, in my defense, I haven’t missed a post 🙂
Lol! So glad we are connected again 🙂 I missed your humour
Aw, you! I’ll be sure to drop by more often 🙂