Scandinavian maps

The National and Academic Library (BNU) boasts 340 maps: 60 maps of Scandinavia as a whole and 280 of Norway, Sweden, Denmark, and Finland. Other regions include Iceland, Svalbard, Greenland, and the Arctic region.
Mostly from the 16th to the 19th centuries, these older maps were engraved by renowned cartographers, like Mercator, Ortelius, Janssonius, Homann, etc. and conjure up images of Vikings, myths, and fantastic beasts.

Tractus Norwegiæ Danicus magnam Diocoeseos Aggerhusiensis Partem Sistens

Let's look at this map of the province surrounding Aggerhus, with its right-hand ride showing the steps from ore extraction to ironwork! (Homann, 1728)

And these 16th century nautical charts, with their detailed coastlines and wind roses, their boats and marine creatures!

This extraordinary map by Ortelius represents Iceland, where fire and ice meet (with a perfectly recognisable volcano), with its lacy coastline and a full menagerie of fantastic and terrifying creatures, the only animals depicted in the Theatrum orbis terrarum! (1587)

Lastly, this map of Norway displaying a lion, which, following tradition, holds the Saint Olav battle axe in its paws!

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