Mayda
Encyclopedia
Mayda is a non-existent island in the North Atlantic that has been shown on several published maps at various points in history. It was most often represented as being crescent-shaped and its position has varied widely over time. Early maps drew the island west of Brittany
and southwest of Ireland
, but it later moved towards the Americas
(Newfoundland, Bermuda
, West Indies). It was shown on a map as late as 1906, on a Rand McNally
relief map.
' 1367 map. It was crescent shaped and sited southwest of the island of Brasil, on the same latitude of southern Brittany
.
It appeared as Asmaidas on a map of the New World
accompanying Waldseemüller's 1513 edition of Ptolemy's Geography.
Ortelius
(in Theatrum Orbis Terrarum
) placed a crescent-shaped island in the traditional location of Mayda with the name "Vlaenderen".
While submerged land of the appropriate shape has been found in the area of early maps (at 46°23′N 37°20′W, 20 fathoms down), it is not necessarily that of Mayda.
Brittany
Brittany is a cultural and administrative region in the north-west of France. Previously a kingdom and then a duchy, Brittany was united to the Kingdom of France in 1532 as a province. Brittany has also been referred to as Less, Lesser or Little Britain...
and southwest of Ireland
Ireland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
, but it later moved towards the Americas
Americas
The Americas, or America , are lands in the Western hemisphere, also known as the New World. In English, the plural form the Americas is often used to refer to the landmasses of North America and South America with their associated islands and regions, while the singular form America is primarily...
(Newfoundland, Bermuda
Bermuda
Bermuda is a British overseas territory in the North Atlantic Ocean. Located off the east coast of the United States, its nearest landmass is Cape Hatteras, North Carolina, about to the west-northwest. It is about south of Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada, and northeast of Miami, Florida...
, West Indies). It was shown on a map as late as 1906, on a Rand McNally
Rand McNally
Rand McNally is an American publisher of maps, atlases, textbooks, and globes for travel, reference, commercial, and educational uses. It also provides online consumer street maps and directions, as well as commercial transportation routing software and mileage data...
relief map.
History
The island first appeared under the name of Brazir, on the Pizigani brothersDomenico and Francesco Pizzigano
Domenico and Francesco Pizzigano, known as the Pizzigani brothers, were 14th C. Venetian cartographers. Their surname is sometimes given as Pizigano in older sources.- 1367 Chart :]...
' 1367 map. It was crescent shaped and sited southwest of the island of Brasil, on the same latitude of southern Brittany
Brittany
Brittany is a cultural and administrative region in the north-west of France. Previously a kingdom and then a duchy, Brittany was united to the Kingdom of France in 1532 as a province. Brittany has also been referred to as Less, Lesser or Little Britain...
.
It appeared as Asmaidas on a map of the New World
New World
The New World is one of the names used for the Western Hemisphere, specifically America and sometimes Oceania . The term originated in the late 15th century, when America had been recently discovered by European explorers, expanding the geographical horizon of the people of the European middle...
accompanying Waldseemüller's 1513 edition of Ptolemy's Geography.
Ortelius
Abraham Ortelius
thumb|250px|Abraham Ortelius by [[Peter Paul Rubens]]Abraham Ortelius thumb|250px|Abraham Ortelius by [[Peter Paul Rubens]]Abraham Ortelius (Abraham Ortels) thumb|250px|Abraham Ortelius by [[Peter Paul Rubens]]Abraham Ortelius (Abraham Ortels) (April 14, 1527 – June 28,exile in England to take...
(in Theatrum Orbis Terrarum
Theatrum Orbis Terrarum
Theatrum Orbis Terrarum is considered to be the first true modern atlas. Written by Abraham Ortelius and originally printed on May 20, 1570, in Antwerp, it consisted of a collection of uniform map sheets and sustaining text bound to form a book for which copper printing plates were specifically...
) placed a crescent-shaped island in the traditional location of Mayda with the name "Vlaenderen".
While submerged land of the appropriate shape has been found in the area of early maps (at 46°23′N 37°20′W, 20 fathoms down), it is not necessarily that of Mayda.
Appearances on maps
- Pizigani brothers mapDomenico and Francesco PizziganoDomenico and Francesco Pizzigano, known as the Pizzigani brothers, were 14th C. Venetian cartographers. Their surname is sometimes given as Pizigano in older sources.- 1367 Chart :]...
(1367) as Brazir - Catalan mapCatalan AtlasThe Catalan Atlas is the most important Catalan map of the medieval period. It was produced by the Majorcan cartographic school and is attributed to Cresques Abraham , a Jewish book illuminator who was self-described as being a master of the maps of the world as well as compasses...
(1375) as Mam - Pinelli map (1384) as Jonzele/I.Onzele
- Pizzigano MapPizzigano MapThe Pizzigano Map is a portolan chart dated to 1424 and attributed to the 15th C. Venetian cartographer Zuane Pizzigano...
(1424) either as Ventura or Ymana. - Bianco world mapBianco world mapAndrea Bianco was an Italian sailor and cartographer of the 15th century. His atlas of 1436 comprises ten leaves of vellum, measuring 29 × 38 cm., in an 18th century binding. The first leaf contains a description of the rule of marteloio for resolving the course, with the "circle...
(1448) as Bentusla - Waldseemüller mapWaldseemüller mapThe Waldseemüller map, Universalis Cosmographia, is a printed wall map of the world by German cartographer Martin Waldseemüller, originally published in April 1507. It is known as the first map to use the name "America". The map is drafted on a modification of Ptolemy's second projection, expanded...
(1513) as Asmaidas - Prunes map (1553) as Mayda
- Nicolay map (1560) as I man orbolunda
In popular culture
- The island of Mayda is a principal location in the novel A Web of Air, by Philip ReevePhilip ReevePhilip Reeve is a British author and illustrator. He presently lives on Dartmoor with his wife Sarah and their son Samuel.-Biography:...
.