title: The Reinterpretation of Claudius Ptolemy's Germania Magna
title: with the help of computer-aided image distortion of a medieval map representation of Donnus Nicolaus Germanus - and considerations on the postglacial geodynamics of Europe
titleType: Subtitle
Creators: name: Mildner, Sven
Publisher: name: Sven Mildner
Year: 2025
Subjects: subject: Geology
subject: FOS: Earth and related environmental sciences
subject: Archaeology
subject: History
subject: History and archaeology
subject: FOS: History and archaeology
subject: Medieval history
subject: Ancient history
subject: Physical geography
subject: Planetary geology
subject: Coastal geography
subject: Plate tectonics
subject: Glacial geology
subject: Europe
subject: Niedersachsen
subject: Schleswig-Holstein
subject: Mecklenburg-Vorpommern
subject: Brandenburg
subject: Ziltendorfer Niederung
subject: Oderbruch
subject: Scandia
subject: Scandzia
subject: Goths
subject: Gotones
subject: Nomisterium
subject: Stragona
subject: Budorigum
subject: Oder
subject: Spree
subject: Schwarze Elster
subject: Black Elster
subject: Albis Fluvii
subject: Vistula Fluvius
subject: Baltica
subject: Alpine orogeny
subject: Scandinavia
subject: Central European depression
subject: North Sea Central Graben
subject: Oceanus Germanicus
subject: Continental drift
subject: Viking settlements
subject: Thor Suture Zone
subject: Trans-European Suture Zone
subject: Caledonian Deformation Front (CDF)
subject: Postglacial land uplift
subject: Claudius Ptolemy
subject: Germania Magna
subject: Chiemgau-Impact
subject: Chiemgau-Einschlag
subject: Hallstatt
subject: Celts

description: Projektwebsite: https://www.germania-magna.de

Die Neuinterpretation der Germania Magna des Claudius Ptolemaios durch Sven Mildner - mit Hilfe computergestützter Bildverzerrung einer mittelalterlichen Kartendarstellung des Donnus Nicolaus Germanus - und Betrachtungen zur postglazialen Geodynamik Europas

PREPRINT

Mildner, Sven. (2020). The Reinterpretation of Claudius Ptolemy's Germania Magna - with the aid of computer-assisted image distortion of a medieval map by Donnus Nicolaus Germanus - and considerations on the postglacial geodynamics of Europe. 10.23689/fidgeo-5907.

A New Interpretation of Ptolemy's Germania Magna: Employing Computer-Assisted Image Distortion of a Medieval Map by Donnus Nicolaus Germanus to Examine Post-Glacial Geodynamics in Europe

This paper revisits Claudius Ptolemy's depiction of Germania Magna through a multidisciplinary approach, integrating computer-aided distortion analysis of Donnus Nicolaus Germanus's medieval cartography with geological insights. The study proposes that the region underwent significant and complex transformations, likely influenced by tectonic activity, such as the reactivation of the Caledonian Deformation Front (CDF), a major geological structure in Europe that separates ancient orogenic belts, and possibly by cosmic events like the Chiemgau impact, a proposed meteorite impact in southern Germany. A reevaluation of Germanus's map, aligned with modern cartographic data, challenges long-held interpretations of Germania Magna's boundaries. The analysis suggests that Ptolemy's Vistula Fluvius corresponds more closely to the present-day Schwarze Elster in Germany rather than the Vistula River (Weichsel) in Poland. Building on this reinterpretation, the study further examines the potential regression of the Oceanus Germanicus, attributing it to tectonic shifts, volcanic activity, or changes in relative sea level. These environmental processes may have profoundly shaped settlement patterns and cultural development, influencing not only coastal areas but also extending to all regions of Germania Magna, as communities presumably adapted to substantial environmental changes. By situating Germania Magna within the broader framework of geological, cosmic, and climatic phenomena, this study offers new insights into pivotal events and processes that could have shaped the environmental and cultural landscape of Northern and Central Europe in antiquity. It aims to encourage further interdisciplinary research and a critical reassessment of historical and archaeological interpretations.
description: On Determining the Length of a Ptolemaic Degree – Supplement to the Reinterpretation of Germania Magna (doi: 10.31223/X5313T) The realignment of the Germania Magna map according to this interpretation results in a new value for the length of a Ptolemaic degree. The following explanation is intended to make the calculation steps leading to this value easier to understand. For the derivation, we first consider the two rivers that border Germania Magna to the east and west, for which Ptolemy recorded the coordinates of their estuaries into the Oceanus Germanicus._File: "Overlay_geograf.Einheiten_zur_Germania Magna Neuinterpretation nach Sven Mildner.kml":First draft of a map overlay featuring the geographical units of Germania Magna, adapted to the area of the Federal Republic of Germany and represented in a modern WGS84 coordinate system for Google Earth(erster Entwurf eines Kartenoverlays mit den geografischen Einheiten der Germania Magna, übertragen auf die Bundesrepublik Deutschland bzw. auf ein modernes WGS84-Koordinatensystem für Google Earth)

 

Version 3 (01.05.2025) - Changelog:



Improved alignment of Albis Fluvius in the middle Elbe region, south-east of Magdeburg

[Revised representation] of the lower course and/or the mouth region of Rhenus Fluvius, more closely aligned with the map overlay rather than the present-day course of the Rhine (see following graphic)

Addition of the river “Vidrus Fluvius” to the overlay, corresponding to the map overlay, with its source near the Vogelsberg in Hesse (see following graphic)


Note: The source and mouth region of Visurgis Fluvius has been shifted northward according to the map overlay, compared to the original representation on the medieval map of Donnus Nikolaus Germanus.

more:  https://www.germania-magna.de/kartenoverlay-mit-den-geografischen-einheiten-der-germania-magna/Version 4 (07.05.2025) - Changelog: 



Improved alignment of Albis Fluvius "Variante B" in the middle Elbe region between Bitterfeld-Wolfen and Braunschweig/Celle, and Addition of "Variante C" in the middle Elbe region with Albis Fluvius corresponding with a part of modern river Mulde near Dessau (Sachsen-Anhalt)

Addition of the river “Tibiseus Fluvius” to the overlay, modern Iser/Jizera (CZ)

.kml-file is a Network-Link-KML


Version 5 (08.05.2025) - Changelog: 



Changes of Version 4 (Netzwerk-KML) and Improved Alignment for Chalusus Flu. (now Havel) and Suebus Flu. (now Nuthe)

Addition of some ancient settlements to the overlay (Alisum, Amisia, Asciburgium, Budorigum, Budorgis, Budoris, Calisia, Carrodunum, Limiosaleum, Lugidunum, Mediolanium, Nomisterium, Parienna, Stragona)

.kml-file is an Offline-KML


 

Version 6 (10.05.2025) - Changelog: 



Improved Alignment for Vistula Flu., Suebus Flu., Viadua Flu. and Chalasus Flu.

Addition of ancient settlements Colancorum, Lupfurdum, Mersovium and Susudata

Addition of "Ziltendorfer Niederung"

Some points of interesst now have additional informations in the description text for a better understanding


Note: The drawn course of the Chalasus Fluvius here roughly follows the Mercator map. According to the depiction of Germania Magna on the map by Donnus Nikolaus Germanus, the mouth area of the Chalusus Flu. is located approximately 15 kilometers further west, i.e., near Vehlgast/Kühlhausen or in the direction of Havelberg. This could indeed also indicate a change in the course of the river in antiquity, which becomes evident when comparing both maps and for which there are also further indications that such a change could actually have occurred. Consequently, it would then also be reasonable to assume that both maps might not depict Germania Magna at the same point in time, but that the course of the Chalusus Flu. on each map was recorded independently at different times. The question could still be whether a main channel was actually discernible in the mouth area here, or whether it was rather a branched delta. The course of the rivers drawn on the map, however, it seems, could also have been oriented much more directly along the course of the already existing subglacial meltwater channels.

 

Version 7 (12.05.2025) – Changelog:



With this version, several of the Germanic and Sarmatian tribes are now located on the map.


Version 8 (12.05.2025) – Changelog:



Further information was added to the description, initially regarding the Sarmatian tribes.