Gazetteer

This is an index of all of the placenames (i.e. toponyms) which are either mentioned in La sfera or present on at least one of the maps that decorate the margins of many Sfera manuscripts.

About the gazetteer

You can learn more about the toponyms in three ways:

  1. Select a toponym from the index list on the left. This list is filterable by fuzzy-matching search. Selecting a toponym will allow you to view more detailed information.
  2. Start typing a toponym in the search box, and the list will use fuzzy matching to offer you a smaller number of options.
  3. Select a point on the map to view the toponym associated with that location. You can then click on the toponym for more detailed information.

With each toponym we have listed a few of the naming variants that appear across the Sfera manuscripts. Our list of variants is not comprehensive, and provides only a representative sample of the kinds of spelling variants found on Sfera maps. In particular, doubled letters (angolo >> angollo), c/ch and g/gh variants (>> angholo), and vowel variation (>> angelo) are so common that it is impossible to note all variations. Toponyms with few or no variants either (a) are so common as to acquire a standard spelling (e.g. asia) OR (b) do not often appear in the Sfera maps (e.g. livorno). Our list of variants expands abbreviations except in the case of labels such as f[iume] or m[are], where variation is shown.