Perhaps the most striking characteristic of the highly schematized mappamundi in the Codex Urgellensis is its representation of mountains, rivers, and seas as the most important boundaries and geographical landmarks. The Mediterranean Sea dominates the center of the map and separates Europe on the left and Africa on the right. The Garden of Eden, signified by a rectangle containing the naked Adam and Eve accompanied by a serpent, is prominently featured and located conspicuously close to the holy city of Jerusalem. Jerusalem is the only colored landmark on an otherwise monochrome map, representing its Biblical significance. On the right side of the map is a fourth continent, sandwiched between two oceans. This unique representation of the known world covers two parchment pages, and provides the geographical context for the text in the manuscript, Beatus of Liébiana’s Commentary on the Apocalypse of Saint John.

Pat Chirathivat '16 and Nora Katz '16

]]> Beatus de Liébiana Codex Urgellensis, ed. Peter Klein. Madrid: Testimonio Compañia Editorial, 1997.]]> Carleton Library, Special Collections (Horizontal Shelving) BS2825.A2 B.37 1997]]>