Olaus Magnus Collection

Map of Scandinavia, from Carta Marina, Sea Map by Olaus Magnus, 1539
Cartography, 16th century. Map of Scandinavia. From Carta Marina (Sea Map) by Olaus Magnus, 1539

The Great Drinkers of the North (engraving)
668424 The Great Drinkers of the North (engraving) by French School, (19th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: The Great Drinkers of the North.-Fac-simile of a Woodcut of the " Histoires)

Page from Historia de Gentibus Septentrionalibus by Olaus Magnus
1067656 Page from Historia de Gentibus Septentrionalibus by Olaus Magnus, 1555 (woodcut with printed) by Unknown Artist, (16th century); 6x9.2 cm; Dallas Museum of Art, Texas, USA; gift of Mrs. A.E

Sailors buying winds (tied in knots) from a magician, 1562. From Historia de gentibus septentrionalibus by Olaus Magnus. (Antwerp, 1562)

Man being eaten by a sea serpent. After a facsimile from Olaus Magnus: De Gentibus Septentrionalibus, 1555. From The Universe or, The Infinitely Great and the Infinitely Little, published 1882

PMYT2A-00023
Ship attacked by a sea serpent in the Sea of Darkness. Hand-colored woodcut reproduction from Olaus Magnus, 1555

Carta Marina, Sea Map by Olaus Magnus, 1539
Cartography, Iceland, 16th century. Carta Marina (Sea Map) by Olaus Magnus, 1539

Map of Nordic countries and Lapland, by Olaus Magnus, from Carta Marina, Sea Map, 1539
Cartography, 16th century. Map of Nordic countries and Lapland. From Carta Marina (Sea Map) by Olaus Magnus, 1539

Finland and Russian territories, from Carta Marina, Sea Map by Olaus Magnus, Venice, detail, 1539
Cartography, 16th century. Finland and Russian territories. From Carta Marina (Sea Map) by Olaus Magnus, Venice, 1539. Detail

Sea serpent, 16th century artwork
Sea serpent. 16th century artwork of a sea serpent seizing a sailor from a ship. Accounts of sea serpents may have been based on exaggerated observations of large marine creatures such as oarfish or

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"Olaus Magnus, a 16th-century Swedish cartographer and bishop, is best known for his groundbreaking works on the lands and peoples of the North. His most famous creations include the intricately detailed "Carta Marina," a sea map depicting the Scandinavian region, and "Historia de Gentibus Septentrionalibus," a richly illustrated ethnographic account. The map, adorned with fantastical creatures like sea serpents and magicians selling winds to sailors, was a testament to Olaus's imagination and exploratory spirit. The engravings of "The Great Drinkers of the North" and the "Man being eaten by a sea serpent" further highlight the fantastical elements of Olaus's work, which continue to captivate and intrigue scholars and enthusiasts alike.