Why the rosettes image may not be a map at all

[MarcoP]

Obrist's "Wind diagrams and Medieval Cosmology" discusses a square diagram vaguely similar to Byrhtferth's (discussed You are not allowed to view links. Register or Login to view.) and to the Rosettes page. It's from ms 387 in Vienna (dating to 818 ca).

The circles at the center of the sides of the square correspond to the four cardinal directions. The circles at the corners correspond to the four elements. The center is occupied by a diagram similar to a T-O world map, but the ordering of the three continents is peculiar: the largest continent usually is Asia, here it is Europe.