Discover the Secrets of One of the Earliest Terrestrial Globes | Object of Intrigue | Atlas Obscura

The Hunt-Lenox globe is the second-oldest surviving terrestrial globe and also the oldest known globe to depict the Americas. The globe is covered in hidden details, including the Latin phrase, HC SVNT DRACONES, or “here be dragons.”
The globe sits in the New York Public Library today. Watch this episode of #ObjectOfIntrigue to hear Michael Inman, curator of rare books at the New York Public Library, talk about the significance of the globe and showcase the intricate details etched into the tiny treasure.
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CREDITS:
Directed by:
Chris Naka
Produced by:
Doug Baldinger
Editors:
Chris Naka
Lizzie Philip
Production Assistant:
Lizzie Philip
Special thanks:
Sarah Beth Joren
Visit the New York Public Library: www.nypl.org/
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[@thrillhouse_vanhouten]

I wish they'd set up some nice lighting and take sample hi-res photos of every square inch of this globe, then map them onto an interactive 3D model that people could inspect online.

[@atlasobscura]

It sounds like they're still working on it! That's a great idea-we'd agree that it would be useful, especially for people who don't live in New York. dslab.lib.rochester.edu/hunt-lenox-globe/

[@millardfillmore2869]

They should do the same for the erdapfel globe

[@dangerdan2592]

@@millardfillmore2869 It's not interactive but there is a video that shows it fairly well, just in case you haven't seen it yet kzbin.info/www/bejne/iqubhneda8ini8U

[@noelalexisshaw-nas-noz5142]

Pahaha...Seeing As They Are Trying To Maintain Con-Troll Of A Narrative That Decieves - I Highly Doubt That Will Happen, Curious,Inquisitive Souls Have Already Trashed A Huge Sect Of This Deception. IAM Going To Complete The ₩hole And Free Societies Enslaved Souls. Much Love 💚

[@projectmidlife]

The first thing, that came to my mind is - is it hollow, was it ever opened? If I were making something like that, and it wasn't solid cast, I'd put some stuff inside, some writings on paper, or I'd engrave insides. :D

[@briangonigal3974]

Making a world map (or globe) in the late 14 to early 1500's was probably a lot like making a map of Eastern Europe in 1990: you know that as more info comes in / the political realities on the ground change, your product is going to be completely obsolete in a few years anyway. So hey, why not make some wild claim about dragons? It's not like in 10 years anyone will still be using the dam thing.

[@doggonemess1]

It's also the only globe made entirely of chocolate. That's why he has to wear gloves to handle it.

[@atlasobscura]

Boy, we wish it were made of chocolate.....

[@doggonemess1]

@@atlasobscura But that would make it so much more tempting to want to touch it!

[@floweee7108]

Touch my sentimental jonathanuts

[@Globemakers]

Fantastic! Thank you for documenting this so we can see the amazing detail up close!

[@CharonsNightmare]

If you people's interest in globes now has been sparked and you happen to come to vienna and want to go to somewhere this isn't a giant tourist trap, I would advise you to visit the globe museum of vienna which hosts the biggest collection of historic globes all over the globe. ^^

[@atlasobscura]

So glad you brought this up! Yes, the Globe Museum is spectacular. We included it in our Atlas Obscura database! www.atlasobscura.com/places/globe-museum

[@googiegress]

That libaryguy needs one-a them pointing sticks like from antiques roadshow, or perhaps an extremely tiny pewter hand

[@Cadwaladr]

Nice use of Dvořák.

[@voiceofREASONS]

Any chance you know what song this is?

[@acspectator8636]

Before the Magellan voyage would prove how much more vast the Pacific Ocean along with the Earth’s circumference actually is.

[@ampz1466]

So cool. I'd love to make a globe like that. You can see the skill and craftsmanship that went to it.

[@atlasobscura]

The details are incredibly intricate! We always love seeing the care and detail that went into these sorts of treasures,

[@ampz1466]

@@atlasobscura definitely! It really blurs the line between art and object. It's so tiny yet beautiful. Was it acid etched like they do with etching prints? I can't imagine how that would work. I'd love to know more about the process.

[@mattsmith5267]

Here be dragons was a standard phrase used back then to try and put off other would be explorers. It was done so that the original finder could go back at a later date to find tradable goods for Europe. It was all about exploiting the resource of the area for profit. They did not want others to get in there first and cashin, so the marked as " Here be dragons".

[@stephenwoodward5081]

Now we know where Lorne Malvo in season 1 of Fargo tv series got the quote from

[@comradezero]

I noticed no navigational, grid, or distance references on the globe. That and its size are pretty strange. Perhaps it was a rough draft or mock-up for a larger project, maybe abandoned as a result of new geographical info coming in constantly from expeditions. Whatever the case, it's a great illustration of how the world is constantly reshaped by our perception and vice versa.

[@Brian-cw9pp]

So what is it made from and how?

[@atlasobscura]

Great question. It's made of copper! Here's more information about the globe. exhibitions.nypl.org/treasures/items/show/163

[@Brian-cw9pp]

@@atlasobscura Thank you!

[@agustinvenegas5238]

I want a copy, a 3d print would be enough

[@galanie]

I'm a lot less interested in a picture of a sea creature than I am in seeing how all the different land masses were done. But we instead see closeups of water, a ship, a sea monster, and a quick clip of South America.

[@noelalexisshaw-nas-noz5142]

Its Called Controlling The Narratives My Friend. 💚

[@galanie]

@@noelalexisshaw-nas-noz5142 Whatever its called, the globe is primarily for viewing the land masses and the sea monster details are interesting but I really want to see that which is the point of the globe, the land. I wish more time was given just hovering over Asia & Europe, etc. north and central America are shown enough to get a bit of knowledge about that which they knew but not the "old world."

[@noelalexisshaw-nas-noz5142]

@@galanie In My Honest Opinion....The "Globe" Is Nothing More Than A Tool Of Deception - And Only Resembles A Very Minute Scale Of Our Known Landmasses, The Shape In Itself Is So Much More Than "The Elephant In The Room, Or The Dragon Of The Moon 😉. Much Love My Friend, 💚

[@galanie]

@@noelalexisshaw-nas-noz5142 Easy to see why you say that, as any globe isn't really technically correct, but it's interesting to me to see what their knowledge and perception of the land masses were at any time in the past. Which is why I want to see those things and not just closeup of imaginary sea monsters and a bit of the new world. I mean those land masses they knew the most about, not just the ones they knew least of. I mean yes its beautiful and great work and artistry and look they have south America but how was Europe and Asia depicted so I can compare? I don't know cause it was a quick spin with the hand in the way.

[@Chris-Alia]

Never mentions who may have made it.

[@cluek9780]

PROBABLY a casting from the original ostrich egg carving engineered by Leonardo. Yeah, THAT one. Having only discovered this today, close examination of the drawings are truly LIKE his (including being done by a *left-hander), tho I’ve never known anything else by him that was engraved..... Maybe drawings could be engraved on a calcium shell using a sharpened point rather than a burin, which takes years to master in any metal, and was IMHO, foreign to The Master.

[@nonotandy]

Gives me that $20 made in China vibe.

[@bestelectronicmusicfromnew5189]

spanish son, french sunt, is the plural "are" here are dragons. sum is "cogito ergo sum",

[@bergfish7328]

🌏💞🐉

[@preshisify]

🤗

[@laurajuranek4415]

Awesome!♡

[@preshisify]

🤗