The Blaeu Globes

In 1595, Willem Jansz. Blaeu, entered an apprenticeship with the famous astronomer Tycho Brahe, where he was able to give free rein to his interest in mathematics and astronomy and was taught to construct instruments, conduct astronomical observations,  and print books.

After his return to the Netherlands, Blaeu established residence in Amsterdam, the location for a producer of navigational instruments and maps. Here Blaeu published his first influential book in 1608: Het licht der zeevaart, (The light of navigation), a manual for mariners.

When the City of Antwerp moved the City Library to its current location, the globes found their definitive home in the historic building on the Hendrik Conscienceplein. Today you can find them in the Nottehmhall.

The terrestrial globe can be dated to 1645-1648. It incorporates additions by Joan Blaeu.

At the southernmost tip of America we find an inscription which refers to the discovery of Cape Horn, named after the Dutch city Hoorn from where the expedition departed.

The corridor between Cape Horn and Staten Island is called Le Maire Strait after the mission’s leader, Jacob Le Maire from Antwerp.

This discovery dates from 1616, as is also stated on the globe. It is the last date mentioned, making it possible to date the ‘original’ version of the globe. 

Although the terrestrial globe presents a surprisingly modern picture of the world, there are also a great many inaccuracies. The interior of Congo appears to be swallowed by Lake Zaire or Lake Zembre. This does not exist, but is probably based on stories about Lake Tanganyika.

Because Europeans rarely ventured into the interior regions of Africa, all sorts of stories were being spread about Lake Zaire. On his globe, Blaeu mentions stories about tritons and mermaid living in this lake.

The Babylonians associated the constellation Virgo with Shala, the Sumerian goddess of the harvest. The Greek Demeter and Roman Ceres were also harvest goddesses associated with the constellation.

In the Middle Ages, Virgo was associated with the Virgin Mary; it is rather surprising to see that Virgo is most commonly portrayed as an angel with wings.

In 1572, a new and very bright star appeared in the constellation of Cassiopeia. Dozens of scholars in Europe observed this star.

For the first time it appeared that the starry skies were not unchangeable, as Aristotle had claimed. Brahe determined that the new star was a real star and not a planet, and argued that this revolutionized the entire theory of physics of that time.