Jacob Boros - Academic Conference

http://ww.stvincent.edu | The Hereford Mappa Mundi: A Medieval Look at the Universe. This Hereford Mappa Mundi, a large map that depicts the world as it was understood in thirteenth-century England, seems woefully inaccurate and simplistic to modern eyes. However, its structure, content and purpose together create a profound and meaningful view of the universe. Each individual aspect of the map’s construction explicates some truth about the cosmos, including its most basic structural elements. Its circularity, orientation and even geographic imprecisions all have explanations. Specific images upon the map’s surface also have particular meanings and indicate the presence of serious theological and metaphysical questions. Finally, I contextualize the map on a variety of levels. The scenes surrounding the earth, the map’s location with the Hereford Cathedral, and its broader connections to Christian conceptions of history and eschatology together present a world that is far from unsophisticated. The Mappa Mundi demonstrates the unexpected accuracy of medieval cartography and shows the complexity of its cosmology. Follow Us on Social: Facebook - http://www.facebook.com/saintvincentcollege Twitter - http://www.twitter.com/MySaintVincent Instagram - http://www.instagram.com/saintvincentcollege Flickr - https://www.flickr.com/photos/saintvincentcollege/