Our rugged expedition vessel, m/v Ortelius, is a guest favorite, beloved for her design, character, and ability to deliver exciting polar activities by sea, land, and air. But do you know why Ortelius was so named? Like all our motor vessels, she is named for a Dutch or Flemish cartographer, in this case, Abraham Ortelius (1527-1598), recognized as the creator of the first modern atlas, the Theatrum Orbis Terrarum.
A leading figure in Dutch cartography
Born in Antwerp, then part of the Spanish Netherlands, in 1527, Abraham Ortelius came from a well-educated family. He is known to have traveled extensively throughout Europe, adding to his understanding and knowledge of European and global geography. At the same time, the new world was being explored by many major European powers, particularly the Spanish, Portuguese, and English, bringing a wealth of new information and opportunities back to their respective kingdoms. During his travels, Ortelius became acquainted with the notable cartographer Gerardus Mercator, who was already well-established as a geographer, cosmographer, creator of several scientific instruments, and an important figure in the history of globe maps.
Ortelius' first map, Typus Orbis Terrarum, was published in 1564 as an eight-leaved wall map of the known world. It is remarkable in its accuracy in mapping the African, European, and Asian continents, with North America and South America being less well-defined but instantly recognizable nonetheless. The mysterious lands of Antarctica and the Arctic are hinted at, represented as large, vague landmasses.
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To produce this map, Ortelius used the insights of many global travelers, explorers, sailors, and soldiers and built upon the reports of much older explorers for his representation of the Far East, notably the famed Venetian adventurer Marco Polo. In addition to Typus Orbis Terrarum, Ortelius also published several other maps as his notability advanced. These included a map of Egypt (1565) and a map of Asia (1567). Through the connections of his cousin and uncle and his reputation, Ortelius was also appointed geographer to the King of Spain, Philip II, in 1557, building on his experience in map illumination and as a book and map trader.
Theatrum Orbis Terrarum - Theatre of the Lands of the New World
In 1570, Ortelius published what would be considered the first true modern atlas in Antwerp, Theatrum Orbis Terrarum (Theatre of the Lands of the World). This collection of map sheets accompanied by supporting text is the zenith of 16th-century cartography and collates the work of several notable cartographers into one cohesive work. With the publication of Theatrum Orbis Terrarum, the golden age of Dutch cartography began, with a substantial number of increasingly more detailed and accurate atlases, maps, and charts being created and published in the Dutch Republic between 1570 and the late 1670s.
Theatrum Orbis Terrarum bundled 53 maps from other masters of cartography, including Giacomo Gastaldi, Diego Gutierrez, and Gerardus Mercator, stylized and sized to be cohesive and organized logically, detailing regions, states, continents, and continents with engraving and other embellishments. Ortelius contributed several maps to the atlas. However, the bulk of his input came in the form of written descriptions, details of sources, and background information for each map.
Ortelius also listed the cartographers whose work he recorded in his atlas in a bibliography - something uncommon and not required at the time. In addition, he provided a list of 87 known cartographers - a list that continued to grow with subsequent editions of the atlas. This refining and detailing of the work of past and present cartographers makes Ortelius's atlas hugely important in the history of cartography, reflecting not only his knowledge and research but those of his inspirations.
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Here be dragons - Hic sunt dracones
Ortelius's work with Theatrum Orbis Terrarum contributed significantly to public understanding and interest in geography and the known world. With fanciful embellishments in the form of sea monsters and mythological creatures scattered throughout, the atlas also bolstered the sense of mystery surrounding what may lay beyond the boundaries of the map, following the medieval traditions of adding images of fanciful creatures to portions of uncharted or supposedly dangerous parts of the world. This practice has, in turn, inspired the popular but anachronistic phrase, 'Here be dragons.'
Although limited to the wealthier middle and upper classes, his atlas proved popular, with further editions published in Latin, Dutch, German, and French by 1572. The atlas continually expanded and improved as more detailed information was collated. In 1573, Ortelius released a collection of 17 additional maps, bringing the total of Theatrum Orbis Terrarum to 70 individual world maps. By the year of Ortelius's death in 1598, 25 editions of his atlas had been published in seven languages.
Picture by Sara Jenner
A brief history of m/v Ortelius
Ortelius was initially named the Marina Svetaeva in honor of the Russian poet Marina Tsvetaeva. Constructed in Gdynia, Poland in 1989, the ship first served as a special-purpose vessel for the Russian Academy of Science, operating in the Russian Far East. After being acquired by Oceanwide Expeditions in 2011, she was renamed.
Today, Ortelius is classed by Lloyd's Register in London and flies the Dutch flag. She holds the highest ice-class notation (UL1, equivalent to 1A) and is therefore suitable for navigating solid one-year sea ice and loose multi-year pack ice. Ortelius can accommodate up to 108 passengers and carry two helicopters along with her standard complement of Zodiac craft.
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