18 replies to this topic

[Claude]

If you were to associate a god or gods with maps, which would you associate? I'd like to know who's praises to sing when we figure out a cartographic task. Erin suggested Poseidon since ancient mariners were so dependent on navigation. If we're sticking with the Greek pantheon, I would maybe throw out Athena since she was not only about Wisdom but Strategy and War (i had to look this up on wikipedia). Seems like making war would be one of the key needs of early maps.

[Martin Gamache]

Michel Foucault has a great quote along the lines of "Geography is War"

[CHART]

I like Einstein's .... If I can't see it I can't understand it....

[Hans van der Maarel]

Intuitively, I'd go with Athena (wisdom, after all). Possibly any other god/godess from other cultures with similar traits:
Wisdom gods
Wisdom godesses

[benbakelaar]

According to those who suggest NACIS is "a drinking group with a mapping problem" - the correct god would be Bacchus!

[Dennis McClendon]

I thought Atlas was our guy, at least since 1570.

As messenger, Hermes/Mercury was probably the one who needed a map the most, until he finally got the upgraded Goddess Positioning System.

[Claude]

I can't believe I didn't think of Atlas!....in my defense no one else in the room did either. I guess the moral is that everyone needs maps.

[Hans van der Maarel]

I can't believe I didn't think of Atlas!....in my defense no one else in the room did either. I guess the moral is that everyone needs maps.

Well...

I've done some reading on Atlas... and he carried the heavens, not the Earth...

wikipedia article

[benbakelaar]

Yea and even if he carried the Earth, I'd spring for gods of wisdom or war before Atlas, who wasn't even a god if I remember correctly.

OOH and now to light the flame... I did a quick Google on "god of cartography" and the third link that came back was "Cartography is Dead (Thank God!)". It's from an issue of Cartographic Perspectives, and its by a landscape architect. I suspect some of you may disagree... read at your own peril. [http://makingmaps.ow...graphydead.pdf]

[Nick Springer]

OOH and now to light the flame... I did a quick Google on "god of cartography" and the third link that came back was "Cartography is Dead (Thank God!)". It's from an issue of Cartographic Perspectives, and its by a landscape architect. I suspect some of you may disagree... read at your own peril. [http://makingmaps.ow...graphydead.pdf]

Yes! I loved it!

[MapMedia]

Well we certaintly owe homage to the Greeks don't we (Pythagorus, Aristotle, and Eratosthenes). I wonder what exclamations they used when they made headway in their work in measuring the circumference of the earth! Maybe it was Zeus? I would like to know.

[DaveB]

Tried to find patron saints for cartographers/mapmakers. Apparently there aren't any.

But for Navigators:
Eramus (aka St. Elmo) - abdominal pains, ammunition workers, appendicitis, birth pains, boatmen, childbirth, childhood intestinal disease, colic, danger at sea, explosives workers, intestinal disorders, mariners, navigators, ordnance workers, sailors, seasickness, stomach diseases, storms, watermen, women in labour
Expeditus (aka St. Elpidius) - against procrastination, expeditious solutions, merchants, navigators, prompt solutions, and of people who have to deliver things on time.
Francis Xavier - African missions; diocese of Agartala, India; diocese of Ahmedabad, India; diocese of Alexandria, Louisiana; Apostleship of Prayer; Australia; black missions; archdiocese of Bombay, India; Borneo; archdiocese of Cape Town, South Africa; China; diocese of Dinajpur, Bangladesh; East Indies; Fathers of the Precious Blood; foreign missions; Freising, Germany; Goa India; diocese of Green Bay, Wisconsin; India; archdiocese of Indianapolis, Indiana; Japan; diocese of Joiliet, Illinois; diocese of Kabankalan, Philippines; diocese of Malindi, Kenya; missionaries; Missioners of the Precious Blood; missions, black; missions, foreign; missions, parish; Navarre, Spain; navigators; New Zealand; parish missions; plague epidemics; Propagation of the Faith (busy guy!)

[natcase]

In doing street and road maps, should we not pray to Pavona, the Roman goddess of pavement? Her alms-boxes are conveniently located streetside in most major cities and towns...

OK, someone must have made that up. The power of family mythology...

How about Nehalennia?
Googled "goddess of navigation..."

[Maisie]

I think we NEED a patron saint. I am leaning toward St. Augustine, patron saint of: brewers, printers and sore eyes, who said "God, give me chastity and continence - but not just now."
(Source: http://www.catholic-forum.com/saints/patron00.htm)

[Martin Gamache]

Well we certaintly owe homage to the Greeks don't we (Pythagorus, Aristotle, and Eratosthenes). I wonder what exclamations they used when they made headway in their work in measuring the circumference of the earth! Maybe it was Zeus? I would like to know.

Lets now forget Ptolemy...or was he Roman...probably the first (military) geographer