Week 1: Breaking Down “Mappa Mundi”

The Mappa Mundi, made interactable.

The Hereford Mappa Mundi is a medieval artifact that is held in the Hereford Cathedral. The map dates back to the early fourteenth century, and reflects what was cartographically believed then within a Christian framework.

The main source of this project is the map itself. From the map, the researchers could find information on myths and legends, bible stories, mythical beasts, strange people, and towns and cities.

Aside from the content, the primary source also provides information through its wear and tear. Scholars speculate that certain areas on the map, such as Hereford’s location, was slowly erased due to pilgrims pointing fingers at the map over the centuries. The project also includes a 3D scan of the map, which details how flattened Hereford on the map became due to tens of thousands of visitors touching it. Occasionally I work with 3D scanning to help digitally preserve artifacts on campus, but I never thought to use it in a way of examining erosion through human use.

I was intrigued by their use of 3D scanning to process the Mappa Mundi. In the scan, the texturing is removed, so all you can see is the mesh of the vellum itself, which offers a greater depth of understanding to the physical map and how it was used or made.

Interestingly, through modern technology, they found that the map was not colored through dyes, which would have penetrated the vellum. By examining the depth changes in the map, it seems to have been pigmented with minerals and compounds. Further evidence is shown from the seas, which would have been green – however, through corrosion over time, the color is much darker.

Through examination of the 3D scan alone, you can see how the Mappa Mundi was made. For instance, a tiny hole in the center of Jerusalem is depicted in the 3D scan, indicating the use of a compass to draw circles. Additionally, the mesh reveals attitudes people had. Many lines are drawn “angrily” through Paris. It was believed to have been accidental damage, but the 3D mesh shows that the lines were intentional and likely due to anti-French sentiments.

In its presentation, the DH project displays three types of maps: a digital representation of the original Mappa Mundi, a color-enhanced version, and the 3D mesh scan. Interactable circles allow the user the explore points of interest in both its content and the physical material of the 3D scan.

My favorite part is that this project chose to highlight “Strange Peoples of the World”.It’s kind of eerie that maybe they exist? For example, Alexander the Great was said to have encountered the Blemmyes, which were war-like people who had no head, but instead had a face on their bellies. The Sciapods were depicted on the map as a race of people who had one very large foot used to shield themselves from the sun. Super weird – I love it.