
Partium τῆς οἰκουμένης symbola.
The symbols of the parts of the world.
Ad Hubertum Goltzium antiquarium.[1]
Est regio quaevis climate certo
Aërio distincta, & commoditate.
Quaelibet haud quidvis terra feretque.
Africa monstrosa est semper habendo
Antea quod nemo viderat usquam.
Fert Asia immanes frigidiore
Nempe solo apros, & nimbigera ursos:
Sed reliquas vincit viribus omnes
Belua, quam Europae temperat aër.
Taurus ut est fortis, bufalus unà.
Ergo sit Europae taurus alumnus,
Africae at insigne sitque Chimaera.
Sint Asiae immites ursus, aperque.
Each region has a certain climate, and a distinct advantage through its atmosphere. Not every region can bear anything you please. Africa is always to be regarded as an extraordinary continent, because nobody has ever seen it before. Storm-bringing Asia with its rather cold soil indeed brings huge wild boars and bears. But all the others are beaten in force by the beast that Europe’s air controls. It is strong like a bull and a buffalo together. Therefore let the native bull be the sign of Europe, but the secretive chimaera that of Africa. Let the merciless wild boar and bear be the mark of Asia.
1. Hubert Goltzius: Flemish humanist, printmaker, publisher, painter and numismatist, active in Antwerp (d. 1583).
Related Emblems
Iconclass Keywords
Relating to the image:
- agricultural implements: plough [47I15(PLOUGH)] Search | Browse Iconclass
- beasts of prey, predatory animals: bear [25F23(BEAR)] Search | Browse Iconclass
- beasts of prey, predatory animals: lion [25F23(LION)] Search | Browse Iconclass
- cheeks rounded [31B6241] Search | Browse Iconclass
- clouds [26A] Search | Browse Iconclass
- floating in the air (+ variant) [31A2763(+0)] Search | Browse Iconclass
- head (internal) [31A2215] Search | Browse Iconclass
- hoofed animals (with NAME) [25F24(ANTILOPE)] Search | Browse Iconclass
- hoofed animals (with NAME) [25F24(BUFFALO)] Search | Browse Iconclass
- hoofed animals: boar [25F24(BOAR)] Search | Browse Iconclass
- map in square or circular form according to old ideas about the shape of the world [25A11] Search | Browse Iconclass
- maps of the continents and the polar regions [25A2] Search | Browse Iconclass
- mountains [25H11] Search | Browse Iconclass
- ox (+ postures, positions of animal(s)) [47I21111(+953)] Search | Browse Iconclass
- the four main directions of the wind [26C11] Search | Browse Iconclass
Relating to the text:
- Africa represented allegorically; 'Africa' (Ripa) [25B3] Search | Browse Iconclass
- Asia represented allegorically; 'Asia' (Ripa) [25B2] Search | Browse Iconclass
- bull [47I2111] Search | Browse Iconclass
- chimera (lion/goat/snake); 'Chimera' (Ripa) [25FF232] Search | Browse Iconclass
- coldness [22E2] Search | Browse Iconclass
- Europe represented allegorically; 'Europa' (Ripa) [25B1] Search | Browse Iconclass
- geographical names of countries, regions, mountains, rivers, etc. (names of cities and villages excepted) (with NAME) [61D(AFRICA)] Search | Browse Iconclass
- geographical names of countries, regions, mountains, rivers, etc. (names of cities and villages excepted) (with NAME) [61D(ASIA)] Search | Browse Iconclass
- geographical names of countries, regions, mountains, rivers, etc. (names of cities and villages excepted) (with NAME) [61D(EUROPE)] Search | Browse Iconclass
- historical person (with NAME) other representations to which the NAME of a historical person may be attached (with NAME of person) [61B2(GOLTZIUS, Hubertus)3] Search | Browse Iconclass
- meteorological phenomena [26] Search | Browse Iconclass
- Multiformity, Variety [51BB4] Search | Browse Iconclass
- storm [26C3] Search | Browse Iconclass
- Things Unknown, the Unknown [51AA8] Search | Browse Iconclass
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