Atlas of True names

[baleanoptera]

What a wonderful form of cartography! An Etymological Atlas where the map makers researched global place names to find their origins, and then translated them to English.


Parts of Italy


And parts of America

Other maps can be found here at SpiegelOnline. To be honest it makes the world look and feel a bit like a fantasy map.

Comments

[dianora77.livejournal.com]

LOL I was born in a Palace and now I live Beyond the Bank. Talk about a downgrade! ;)

Another theory of the origin of my hometown's name is that it came from Greek "aspalathos", which is a name of a plant with yellow flowers called Spanish Broom or Weaver's Broom (Spartium junceum) that grows abundantly in the area. But Palace does sound much grander. :)

[elspethsheir.livejournal.com]

Oooo - what an excellent resource - and it's just plain fun to look at. Thank you for sharing!!

[baleanoptera.livejournal.com]

You're welcome. I've always loved etymology, so this was extra fun.

[losyark.livejournal.com]

Oh those are NIFTY. Mexico means "Navel of hte Moon" and that's so wonderfully and strangely appropriate. Do they have it for Ontario, Canada?

[baleanoptera.livejournal.com]

I tried to find Ontario, but so far I have failed. I think they just put a select number of maps online - and the rest you have to buy.

My favourite is the part of Mexico that is called "I don't understand you!" Hee.

[mnemo-syne.livejournal.com]

Cool! Yeah that's all I got to say. :)

[baleanoptera.livejournal.com]

You know, a little goes a long way. "Cool" was my fist reaction as well. ;)

[schionatulander.livejournal.com]

I think your love for cartography is really fascinating. I have to ruefully admit that I never had much interest in it. And now, working at a auction's house specialised on books and maps, I still do have my problems with it. It's probably because my knowledge in geography is so godawful lousy that I cannot appreciate it: I simply don't see when there are different frontieres or wrongly shaped islands (except when it's blatantly obvious). So, your entries on cartography, both here and on your blog, are really fascinating for me: they are like an opening for a new appreciation for maps... :) Thanks so much for that!

P.S.: Did you get back home safely? And did you enjoy the rest of your trip?? (loved your photos!)

[baleanoptera.livejournal.com]

I think my love for cartography stems from my fascination with the construction of a narrative. The way I see it maps are just a visual way of constructing a narrative of the world, often leaving out details and oddities to create a more objective whole. And as the lovely poem says: The sciences of cartography is limited.

But it is truly so wonderful to hear that my map obsession is interesting to others as well.

ps. yes I did! The trip was wonderful - and in some ways almost a once in a lifetime opportunity. I actually have more photos, and I should just get my act together and post them.

[sunnyskywalker]

How cool! I guess fantasy map-makers are doing it right.

I live in Oath. Interesting.

[baleanoptera.livejournal.com]

Yes - it's just that in fantasy maps things are a bit more upfront. What I'd love to see was a fantasy map - similar to some of Tolkien's maps - where names evolved.
Take Star Wars for instance - have all the names on Corellia been unchanged since the early days of the Old Republic and down to the New Republic? And did the Empire change names of potentially political places? I want to know stuff like this! *g*

[indigo419.livejournal.com]

Totally random, but here via queenofthorns (I think she had referenced a BSG-related link from you?). You have such a great eye for interesting images and unconventional art (like the cat and mouse armour)! Friending, hope that's okay! :)

[baleanoptera.livejournal.com]

Hello! Always nice to meet new people, especially people as fascinated by the cat and mouse armour as I was. Hee. Adding you back.

[indigo419.livejournal.com]

Yay! I know most of my posts are BSG-related, but I do share your fascination with cartography, etymology, Star Wars, old photographs, and a few other esoteric things. :D

[baleanoptera.livejournal.com]

Yay! But it must be said that I love BSG (or at least I used to. Season four and I have, um...issues), and even if I don't post about the show that much I love reading about it. (especially when it comes illustrated with a Jaime Bamber icon. ;) )

[indigo419.livejournal.com]

especially when it comes illustrated with a Jaime Bamber icon. ;)

Indeed! (Or do you prefer him in a tie? In a... pie? "Say! I like my Jamie Bam! I do! I like him, Sam-I-am!" *g*)

Season four and I have, um...issues

I know what you mean. I am retroactively navigating a breakup with almost all of S4... and we won't even speak of the finale.