The Rosettes Page - March 2024

[Mark Knowles]

I have tended not to identify the top left rosette as a map. I found this a hard rosette to interpret as it is so lacking in detail and therefore lacking in clues to its meaning. On the basis of its relative position and geographical illustrations nearby it and on the basis of my general analysis of this page I came to the conclusion that this rosette must be Basel where the Papal Council was held. I think this represents the place where the Council was held in the Cathedral with the participants and the outlookers surroundings them as in a auditorium or theatre. I think a helpful identifying feature are the "cannons" pointing towards the central rosette which is also surrounded by "cannons" pointing outwards. I think these opposing "cannons" illustrate the hostility between the council and the pope. I also suspect that the author chose to illustrate the Council with such a lack of detail reflected his own disillusionment with the council.
So if this represents a view of the Papal Council from above then it could in one sense be considered a sub-map if just zoomed in a lot. Though I don't really feel it makes so much sense to consider it a sub-map.
How I wish the author had just add a bit more detail to this rosette.