Polophylax and Columba on Plancius’ World Map of 1594
Petrus Plancius, the Dutch cartographer, introduced the constellations
Polophylax and Columba in small celestial hemispheres that decorated his world
map of 1592. They appeared again in this map from 1594. Polophylax (here spelt
Polophilax) is shown as a blue-robed figure above left of centre, in the
general area where Hydrus, Tucana and Phoenix will now be found. It is placed
next to an imaginary Southern Cross. At that stage, Plancius did not realize
that the celestial cross reported by explorers consisted of stars that the
Greeks had regarded as part of the feet of Centaurus. The large southern
triangle adjacent to Argo was equally misplaced. Columba is shown to the south
of Orion next to the hind legs of Canis Major, but is not labelled. (
Image courtesy Leen Helmink Antique Maps.)
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