All the atlases and maps together with the illustrations that accompanied them produced and reproduced since the time of Ptolemy and that remain extant contribute in one way or another to the histiography of the world. Some of these have atlases and maps include information that is pertinent to the Strait of Hormuz and the Musandam. On a Portuguese map of the Indian Ocean dated 1519 in the Lopo Homen-Reinal Atlas, C de Razall (Ras al Hadd), is clearly indicated as a ninety degree turn from the Arabia Felix coastline. The Il .daramuz (island of Hormuz) and lara are also indicated. Fortresses, mosques, warriors and indigenous beasts decorate the 16th century map of lands bordering the Indian Ocean.[1] A plate in Braun-Hogenberg's Civitates Orbis Terrarum [2], Cologne 1577, gives a stylised view of Ormus. The town and the wind towers are prominent but there does not appear to be any indication of the fort.[3] Mercator in his atlas of 1585 (see above) names Ormuz and depicts ‘Conga’ on either side of the ‘Mir Mefendin’ (Persian Gulf) towards the upper reaches.[4] A 17th Century map[5] clearly indicates the bell shaped island of Hormuz (‘Ormus’) at the Strait of Hormuz, the islands of ‘Larequa, Queixome’ and ‘Anga’ with sketches of the various fortifications including ‘Feitoriados Igrezes’ and ‘Comoram’ on the Persian mainland. To the left of the map, with north lying to the right, is a rugged brown depiction of the Musandam Peninsula with six outlying islands, one named ‘Ascalimas’ and the other ‘Cabodemo·Nsandam’. A map of Ormus by Petrus Bertius published in 1602 depicts Ormus on both sides of the strait. An island on the west side of the C. de Moafandaon (Musandam) is most likely that of Ghanam island[6] as there are no other islands in the vicinity.[7]
The 1686 Blaeu Atlas[8] covering the east coast of Africa to the Far East is similar to the map of Asia included for the first time in the 1623 edition of the Mercator-Hondius atlas to replace an earlier, less accurate map. This map was also drawn by William Blaeu and indicates the island of Ormuz and the territory both to the north and south as also being Ormus. Around the map are a number of illustrations of cities and peoples including the fortified town of Ormuz viewed from the north end of the island.[9] Abraham Ortelius produced 70 map in the first edition of his atlas Theatrum Orbis Terrarum. One of them, a map of Africa dated 1570 names the island of Ormus but no other places on either side of the Persian Gulf which is named Mare Di Mesendin, olim Sinus Perficus. The sea to the east of Ormuz, now called the Gulf of Oman, is named Bafo ra fetum.[10]
The illustration of the fort of Hormuz entitled, Fortaleza De Ormuz, indicates the fort located on the north side, separated by the parade ground, the Cavallericas, from the main town. At the bottom left Casa del Rey and to the right houses in walled compound. The main streets are named S. Ioan and S. Agustin, the tower as Alcoran and the three churches names N.a S.ade la Pena, S. Luzia and N.a S.ade la e’s pr.sa. Sea called Ribera and Sorgidor.[11]
[1] #4 Severin, Tim, The Sindbad Voyage, Hutchinson, London, 1982 ~ plate opposite p. 64. The coastline as drawn on this map emphasises the ‘turning of the corner’ which coincides with the change in winds described by many mariners. This could be postulated as being the ‘entrance’ to the Persian Gulf. Also see #216 Costa, Paolo M., Musandam, Immel Publishing, London, 1991 ~ p. 48 and #227 Humble, Richard, The Explorers, Series the Seafarers, Time-Life Books Inc., 1978 ~ p. 10,11 (picture credit Photo Bibliothèque National, Paris).
[2] 3 volumes were published between 1572 and 1591 and were completed by a further three volumes, the last of which appeared in 1618.
[3] #216 Costa, Paolo M., Musandam, Immel Publishing, London, 1991 ~ p.46
[4] #180 Roberts, Gail, Atlas of Discovery with an Introduction by Sir Francis Chichester, Bloomsbury Books, London, 1989 ~ pp. 142-3
[5] #172 Miller, Russell, The East Indiamen, The Seafarers, Time-Life Books Inc., Amsterdam, 1980 ~ pp. 52-53 original source BL, London, Ms. Sloane 197, f.155 v/156
[6] also known as Goat island
[7] #216 Costa, Paolo M., Musandam, Immel Publishing, London, 1991 ~ p.47
[8] #141 Gavet-Imbert, Michele (ed.), The Guinness Book of Explorers and Exploration, Guinness Publishing Ltd, Enfield, Middlesex, 1991 ~ p. 179
[9] #180 Roberts, Gail, Atlas of Discovery with an Introduction by Sir Francis Chichester, Bloomsbury Books, London, 1989 ~ pp. 106-7
[10] #180 Roberts, Gail, Atlas of Discovery with an Introduction by Sir Francis Chichester, Bloomsbury Books, London, 1989 ~ pp. 126-127
[11] #274 Forteleza de Ormuz, Madrid, 1595? BL Maps * 51080.(2.) ~