Historical map of Ireland (Hibernia) from the Italian Lafreri School, attributed to Donato Bertelli, circa 1560. It's oriented with south at the top, showing regions like Momonia and Connacia, and features like St. Patrick's Purgatory. Some geographic inaccuracies exist, typical for the era.

by mybighairyarse

48 comments

  3. They got the giant sea dog monsters right and everything

  4. Reminds me of the Tabula Rogeriana, a medieval sicilian world map that was *also* upside-down. I suppose it’s all pretty arbitrary which direction you put at the top.

  8. Pvrgatorivm S. Patricia – St. Patrick’s Purgatory?

  11. Kildaria obviously got tired of the North West in the years since then.

  16. I find it fascinating that Clew Bay is on most of the maps of this era, no matter what else is missing.

  17. who would agree to rename the country “Hibernia” in the event of reunification?

    only joking, but it’s kinda cooler TBH

  18. That seal looks like it spent too much time in England.

  20. Any thoughts on Carigium? Would have assumed that Cashel would have been worthy of a marker, but I doubt thats it. Carrick on Suir maybe?

  21. Pretty cool map – ‘love the shading of the hills in particular’ – but ‘some geographical inaccuracies’ is a bit of an understatement, haha.

  22. It’s flipped, so Ulster is at the bottom. And can see great Britain to the left. Armagh is at the bottom. Lough Neagh is the big lake in lower middle, and the lake to right with islands is probably Lough erne. So what’s the purgatorium St Patrick? Can’t think of a landmark that would be to the west of Lough Neagh

    Edit: sorry didn’t see OPs explanation. And didn’t know St Patrick’s purgatory was a place! Never heard of it

  24. Google Maps how are ye? No wonder I’ve been getting lost all these years. Sure the maps were all upside down all along.

  25. Is that Lough Foyle though? Lough Neagh forgotten, as maybe it should be.

  26. My dad reckons it looks like a steak and I reckon it’s a ballsack

  29. Guessing from the Latin sounding names, South is at the top?

  35. Hon Drogheda – I like how their spelling it closer to how the locals pronounce it today Drodar. Great foresight.

  38. Did they think north was south in that time???

  40. Dvblinvm for Sam!
    Edit: feck, this map is upside down and back to front!

  42. Anyone know what momonia means?

    EDIT:

    Asked chatgpt.
    Means Munster

  45. Carragia sounds like an amazing place to live.

  46. Any idea of the towns to the south of Dublin? One looks like Trygerana that is shown on the banks of the Liffey, and then further south Vvaltreordia.

  47. It’s back to front and shows Drogheda (Drodar) and Dublin (Dvblinvm) on the West Coast.

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