An ornate, hand-colored cosmographical plate from a 17th-century atlas, specifically Andreas Cellarius's 'Harmonia Macrocosmica'. The central feature is a circular map of the Earth projected to show the five climatic zones. Surrounding the map is a wide, multi-layered ring containing astronomical data and day-length calculations for various latitudes. In each corner are elaborate Baroque-style cartouches and supplementary scientific diagrams. The top two cartouches contain the main titles, while the bottom corners contain an armillary sphere and a diagram of climatic shadows. Figures of scholars, cherubs, and allegorical characters decorate the margins.

HEMI

SPHERE OF THE ANCIENT

WORLD. CIRCLE OF THE

PEOPLES.

SPHERE

WHICH WITH ZODIAC.

AND SITUATION

DIVERSE.

The central circular map depicts the world with geographic focus on the northern hemisphere but including the known southern lands. It labels the continents: NORTH AMERICA, EUROPE, ASIA, AFRICA, and NEW HOLLAND. The map is divided into horizontal bands corresponding to the climatic zones, with descriptions of the shadow-casting properties (scia) of the inhabitants of each zone.

ARCTIC POLE OF THE WORLD

NORTHERN FRIGID ZONE
which the PERISCII those whose shadows move in a full circle inhabit

ARCTIC CIRCLE

NORTHERN TEMPERATE ZONE
whose inhabitants are HETEROSCII those whose shadows fall in one direction

TROPIC OF CANCER

TORRID ZONE
in which AMPHISCII those whose shadows fall in both directions or MACROSCHII those with long shadows live

EQUATOR

TROPIC OF CAPRICORN

SOUTHERN TEMPERATE ZONE
whose inhabitants are HETEROSCII

ANTARCTIC CIRCLE

SOUTHERN FRIGID ZONE
which the PERISCII inhabit

ANTARCTIC POLE OF THE WORLD

LEFT
SUMMER SUNSET
EQUINOCTIAL SUNSET
WINTER SUNSET
RIGHT

RIGHT
SUMMER SUNRISE
EQUINOCTIAL SUNRISE
WINTER SUNRISE
LEFT

ARMILLARY SPHERE

A detailed depiction of an armillary sphere in the bottom-left corner, showing the primary celestial circles including the horizon, meridian, equator, tropics, and zodiacal ecliptic.

HABITATIONS

A diagram in the bottom-right corner summarizing the classification of the Earth's inhabitants based on the direction and movement of their shadows at noon relative to the climatic zones.

NORTHERN FRIGID ZONE — PERISCII
NORTHERN TEMPERATE ZONE — HETEROSCII
TORRID ZONE — AMPHISCII or MACROSCHII
SOUTHERN TEMPERATE ZONE — HETEROSCII
SOUTHERN FRIGID ZONE — PERISCII