Expert: Maria - 11/15/2006

Question
What did they use for North, South, East and West before the compass?  

Answer
Hello,

Following what we read in Gaius Iulius Hyginus “De Astronomia” (“On astronomy”), we can say that:

1-To indicate  the North ( “Septemptrio Maior ” or “Polus gelidus” in Latin) the Romans would refer to the point where there was the Ursa Major , i.e. Great Bear, the astronomical  constellation in the region of the north celestial pole containing a group of seven bright stars.

2-To indicate  the South (“Meridies”  or “Austri partes” /”Polus australis” in Latin)  the Romans would refer to the point where there was the Polus Australis, i.e. the point in the opposite direction from the Great Bear.

3-To indicate  the East (“Oriens” in Latin) the Romans would refer to the point where the sun rose.

4-To indicate  the West (“Occidens” in Latin) the Romans would refer to the point where the sun set.

Best,
Maria
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Gaius Iulius Hyginus, (c. 64 BC - 17 AD), is a Latin author who wrote  'De Astronomia', usually called 'Poetica Astronomica', containing an elementary treatise on astronomy and the myths connected with the stars, chiefly based on Eratosthenes, in four books.