Chet Van Duzer's "Sea Monsters on Medieval and Renaissance Maps" (British Library ... Cartographers used the beastly art to illustrate mysterious, unexplored regions of the globe and the possible ...

WASHINGTON — The iconic sea serpents, mermaids and other mythical creatures found on world maps from medieval and Renaissance times splash to life on the pages of a new book.

Some cartographers, however, continued to depict sea monsters in a more serious way. On the sea monsters in Forlani’s 1560 world map. The monsters on Forlani’s map seem more purely decorative rather ...

What is the story behind the sea monsters seen on so many early European maps? Their first appearance can be traced back to 10th century mappaemundi and continue through the end of the 1500s.

Narrated by Emmy Awards nominee Tom Hiddleston, the 10-part series will bring viewers up close and personal with gigantic animals from across the globe — you can't miss them!

Chet Van Duzer's "Sea Monsters on Medieval and Renaissance Maps" (British Library, 2013) charts the evolution of the mythical creatures that adorned atlases from the 10th century through the 17th ...