Unusual Map of Asia in The Form of Pegasus

Map of Asia in the form of Pegasus (Heinrich Bünting, 1581)

Below is an unusual version of the map of Asia in the form of mythical winged stallion Pegasus. He is depicted quite realistically, and a fair amount of imagination is necessary to view the map.

Pegasus’ head is Asia Minor with Armenia on the temple.

Wings depict Central Asia and Siberia. The Caspian Sea is located horizontally between the wings and the saddle. Persia is portrayed on the horse cloth.

The front legs contain Arabia and the hind legs represent the Indian and Malay Peninsula. This map is one of the earliest images of land in form of an animal or person.