On this day in 1570, Flemish cartographer Abraham Ortelius published the first modern atlas—Theatrum orbis terrarum, or Theatre of the World. It included 70 different maps. From his observation of his maps Ortelius noticed that the continents looked like puzzle pieces that if brought together would fit neatly into each other. In 1596 he proposed a theory that they were once part of the same land mass that had broken apart. It would take another 300 years for this theory to be scientifically formulated.
Creator God,
we thank you for the skill of early map makers.
They came up with maps were pretty accurate given the tools they were working with.
We pray that we might bring the same curiosity and interest to the way that we look at our world and what is happening in it so that we get an accurate account of what is going on.
Amen
By Fr Pat O'Shea - Lower Hutt
Photo: Canva
Shop
Comments (0)