Hereford Mappa Mundi

The map is permanently displayed in the Hereford Cathedral in Hereford, England, where it has been housed for centuries. It is currently exhibited in a specially climate-controlled environment to protect the fragile vellum.

The massive map was created around the year 1300, making it the largest surviving medieval map of the world. It was designed by a scholar named Richard of Haldingham, whose name is inscribed on the bottom left corner.

The map is drawn on a single, massive sheet of vellum, measuring approximately 5 feet by 4.5 feet. Vellum, made from calfskin, was an incredibly expensive and durable medium in the Middle Ages.

The map is oriented with East at the top, placing Jerusalem directly at the center of the world as dictated by Christian theology of the time. It is not meant for navigation, but rather to teach viewers about biblical history and human morality.