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Ebstorf Map

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description Ebstorf Map Overview

The Ebstorf Map was a large medieval mappamundi associated with the Benedictine convent of Ebstorf in northern Germany and generally dated to the thirteenth century. It presented the known world within a Christian theological framework, with Jerusalem near the center and Christ's head, hands, and feet surrounding the circular earth. The original parchment map was destroyed during an air raid on Hanover in 1943, so scholars now study it through photographs, facsimiles, and reconstructed copies.

help Ebstorf Map FAQ

What happened to the original Ebstorf Map?

The original Ebstorf Map was destroyed in 1943 during Allied bombing of Hanover, Germany, where it was housed at the Provincial Museum. Fortunately, photographs and facsimile reproductions had been made before its destruction, allowing scholars to continue studying its contents.

How big was the Ebstorf Map?

The Ebstorf Map was a massive medieval mappamundi measuring approximately 3.6 meters (about 12 feet) across, making it one of the largest known medieval world maps. It was composed of multiple parchment sheets joined together.

What religious symbolism did the Ebstorf Map use?

The Ebstorf Map presented the known world within a Christian theological framework, placing Jerusalem near the center and depicting Christ's head, hands, and feet at the map's edges to symbolize his body embracing all of creation. This was a common convention in large medieval world maps.

Where was the Ebstorf Map discovered, and when was it made?

The map was associated with the Benedictine convent of Ebstorf in northern Germany, where it was rediscovered in the 1830s. It is generally dated to the thirteenth century, though the exact date and authorship remain debated among scholars.

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