engleski

Symbolism of the Early Modern Nautical Charts of the Adriatic Sea

The paper offers an interdisciplinary insight into several aspects of the early modern bordering and belonging on the Adriatic Sea using the symbolic elements in cartography. Qualitative analysis of selected nautical charts will primarily focus on the intertwining of their practical sailing purpose as the tool with the symbolic communication capacities of its graphic decorative elements. As thematic maps with the clearly defined utilitarian purpose, nautical charts were also equipped with the orientation facilitating compass roses and rhumbas. Along with the pragmatism of its practical purposes, the Adriatic charts were abundant with the rich symbolism, primarily graphical aesthetics of the compass rosses. Due to its geostrategic position on contacting and conflicting European South- Eastern Frontier and long lasting unstable political subjections, this multi-border space experienced a continuous pressure of being the battlefield of influences. On the majority of the Adriatic charts made in some of the most prominent Mediterranean cultural centres the fleur-de-lis and the cross as the most common decorative elements determining the cardinal compass points were detected. This symbolic testimony of cultural and religious belonging of the Adriatic to the European navigation basin has also implied its participation to the same scope of social and economic development. Quite contrary, the charts of the Ottoman mapmakers have not revealed religious symbols. Therefore, these confronting times of the Christian West and Muslim East, with one of its clashing but also exchanging areas exactly in the Adriatic were characterized by the attempt of the mapmakers of the different western cartographic traditions to graphically prove that this part of the Mediterranean is belonging to the Christian sphere of influence and tradition. The absence of the same map elements on the Ottoman side suggests that the Western imagological and communication capacities of the cartographic media were oriented to a significantly broader (or different) audience.

nautical charts, Early Modern Period, the Adriatic Sea, symbols, compass roses

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