A Map Six Hundred Years Old.

Oamaru Mail, Volume XIX, Issue 6046, 11 September 1894, Page 3

A Map Six Hundred Years Old.

On the wall of the south aisle of Hereford Cathedral, accessible to the visitor at all times, is preserved the celebrated "Mappa Mundi " (date circa 1282-1300). This is the work of an ecclesiastic, who is supposed to be represented in the righthand corner on ho r seback, attended by his paire and greyhounds. He has commemorated himself under the name of Richard de Haldinghaui aud Laflord in Lincolnohire. His real name was Richard de la Battayle or Bello. He held a prebendal stall in Lincoln Cathedral and was promoted to a stall in the cathedral in 1305, afterwards becoming Archdeacon of Reading. During the troublesome times of Cromwell the map was laid beneath the floor of Bishop Audley's chapel, where jt remained secreted for some time. In ISoo it was cleaned and repaired at the British Museum. This is allowed to be one of the most remarkable monuments of its kind in existence, being the largest and most interesting of all the old maps, drawn on a single sheet of stout vellum. The world is here represented as round, surrounded by the ocean. At the top ..f the map "(the east) is represented Paradise, with its river and tree; also the eating of the forbidden fruit and the exposure of our first parents. Above is a remarkable representation of the Day of Judgment, with the Virgin Mary interceding for the faithful, who are seen rising fr. .m their graves and being led within the walls of heaven. The map is chiefly tilled with ideas taken from ancient historians. There are numerous figures of towns, animals, birds, and fish, with grotesque creatures. The four great cities are made very prominent —Jerusalem, Babylon, Rome, and Troy. In Great Britain most of the cathedrals are mentioned.—From "Cathedrals, abbeys, and Churches.' - '