| The globe (Latin: globus, “sphere”) is a three-dimensional model of the Earth or another planet and also a model of a celestial sphere (celestial globe). The first globe was created around 150 BC by Crates of Mallus.
Unlike maps, distortions and ruptures are not present on the globe and hence, it is convenient to use the globe for general notion about the location of continents and oceans. At the same time, the globe (regular sized) has a sufficiently small scale and cannot show any place in detail.
The celestial globe shows the position of stars in the sky as a mirror-image since we see the globe from outside and the celestial globe from “inside”.
Notable globes:
* Terrestrial apple (XV century);
* Globe of Gottorf (XVII century);
* William Blau (XVII century);
* World Globe of Peace (1982-87) - the largest rotating globe. It is in the form of a sphere with a 10m diameter and weighs 30 tons and is located in Colombara, not far away from Apecchio city, in the Pesaro district, Italy. The globe is made from wood and its size accommodates 600 people on three tiers of floors;
* The entire museum of globes is situated in Vienna.
The “Earth Apple” (German: Erdapfel) is the traditional name of the globe created by Martin Behaim in Nuremberg somewhere between 1490 and 1493. This globe is the oldest globe which is preserved to date.
The Behaim globe is a metal sphere of 507 mm diameter, covered by a map, reflecting the knowledge of Europeans about the surrounding world at the end of the 15th century, including inventions of the Portuguese in Western Africa. Latitudes and longitudes are absent on the map according to modern methods but the equator, meridians, tropics and zodiac signs are mentioned on the map. Geographical mistakes encountered on the map repeat the inaccuracies of the maps of Paolo Toscanelli. A brief description about various countries and images of their inhabitants are represented on the map. The “Earth Apple” map does not consider the voyage results of Columbus as he returned to Europe no earlier than March 1493 and the existence of America as separate continent was proved by Amerigo Vespucci about 20 years later. America appeared on the following globe known to us which was created by Martin Waldseemueller.
The “Earth Apple” is an unique achievement of the cartography of the late Middle Ages both according to the accuracy point of view and as well as on the clearness of the image. The globe quickly became one of the attractions of the city and was exhibited in the Nuremberg town hall for public viewing till the 16th century. Later on, it became the property of the Behaim family and is on exhibition since 1907 at the German National Museum in Nuremberg.
Globe Blau, a copper globe on a circular wooden support made in the beginning of 1690 by the successors of the popular Amsterdam cartographer William Blau for Swedish king Charles XI. The height of the globe is more than 2m.
After Charles XII refused to redeem the globe in connection with expenditure for the Northern war, this rare object caught the attention of a Russian agent in Amsterdam. In 1708, he started correspondence with Peter I for the acquisition of the globe. During long negotiations the Russian agent succeeded in slashing the price up to 10 times off the initial price.
In 1710 the globe was bought by the Russian tsar, delivered to Russia and put in the Lefortovo palace. A year later, the globe was transported to the bell tower of Ivan the Great, where it was put on exhibition along with the high overshoes of Peter for the Moscow public. It was the first public museum in Moscow.
In 1733 the globe was moved to the Sukharev tower, where the globe had not lost its educational function. Geography was taught at navigation school using the globe. The chamber meant for accommodating the globe, was named the “Globe”.
In 1752, the globe was moved to the Petersburg’s cabinet of curiosities, apparently, to serve as a sample while restoring the Globe of Gottorf, which had been damaged by fire. The sledge for transportation of the globe was designed by architect D. V. Ukhtomsky.
During the 19th century, the Globe of Blau was an exhibit of the Rumyantsev museum, which was earlier located in St.-Petersburg and then in Moscow. In 1912, the administration of Rumyantsev museum handed-over the glove to the Historical museum where the globe is located till today. |
