The British periodical Daily Mail released a piece focusing on an ancient world chart, crafted in 1583, which features pronouncements regarding the end of days. This historical item, recognized as the Urbano Monte map, not only depicts the geography of that era but also incorporates textual annotations with prophecies deriving from Holy Scripture. Based on the decoding, the map’s creator assumed that divine judgment would arrive no later than 2057.
Urbano Monte, an Italian cartographer, labored on his masterpiece for over 18 years. The chart comprises 60 sheets and, when assembled, reaches an impressive scale—around 3 meters across. Besides the detailed depiction of continents and mythical beings, such as mermaids and centaurs, Monte inscribed his contemplations on humanity’s future onto it. He was a deeply devout individual and sought to merge the scientific knowledge of his age with theological concepts concerning the finite nature of earthly history.
Particular focus is drawn to the inscriptions on the chart, which connect celestial events with apocalyptic happenings. Monte foresaw that before the final judgment, the Sun would dim, and the Moon would turn crimson. These visuals echo the biblical prophecies from the Book of Revelation. The cartographer believed the entire history of the world fit within a 6,000–7,000-year span, and, by his calculations, the climax was due to occur precisely in the mid-21st century.
Scholars examining this artifact highlight its distinctiveness not only as a geographic monument but also as a reflection of the worldview held by Renaissance people. Monte’s chart illustrates how reality and myth, science and faith, were interwoven in the consciousness of individuals of that time. Today, this document is housed at Stanford University, where it was digitized so that anyone interested can closely examine the Italian master’s legacy and his unsettling forecasts.
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