What lies at the edge of the known world? During Roman times and
extending into medieval times, cartographers would use the
inscription HIC SVNT LEONES was used to mark areas of unexplored
territories on maps, the Latin phrase translates to mean “Here
are Lions”). During medieval times, distant and unexplored lands
on the edges of maps were marked by drawings of dragons, sea
serpents, and other ominous looking fictional animals. The
notation of dangerous beasts and mythical sea creatures invoked
the harm that sailors feared to encounter when entering
previously uncharted waters. The less dramatic notation was the
latin phrase “Terra incognita” or “terra ignota” which stands
for land unknown. The first documented use of Terra incognita
was in 150 with Ptolemy’s Geographia. Ptolemy’s atlas warned of
(then) mythical and dangerous creatures such as elephants,
hippos and cannibals in unknown areas. The phrase died out in
the 19th century as global cartography completed its
documentation of coastlines and most area