The Piri Reis map of 1513 contains notes written on
the map in Turkish.*
I
Click on the numeral below for a translation of the note corresponding to the Roman numeral in
the margin next to the text:
I, II, III, IV, V, VI, VII, VIII, IX, X, XI, XII, XIII, XIV, XV, XVI, XVII, XVIII, XIX, XX,
XXI, XXII, XXIII, XXIV
I.
There is a kind of red dye called vakami, that you do not observe at first, because it is at a
distance . . . the mountains contain rich ores. . . . There some of the sheep have silken wool.
II.
This country is inhabited. The entire population goes naked.
III.
This region is known as the vilayet of Antilia. It is on the side where the sun sets. They say
that there are four kinds of parrots, white, red, green and black. The people eat the flesh of
parrots and their headdress is made entirely of parrots' feathers. There is a stone here. It
resembles black touchstone. The people use it instead of the ax. That it is very hard . . .
[illegible]. jPe saw that stone.
[NOTE: Piri Reis writes in the "Bahriye": "In the enemy ships which we captured in the
Mediterranean, we found a headdress made of these parrot feathers, and also a stone resembling
touchstone."]
IV.
This map was drawn by Piri Ibn Haji Mehmed, known as the nephew of Kemal Reis, in
Gallipoli, in the month of muharrem of the year 919 (that is, between the 9th of March and the 7th
of April of the year 1513).
V.
This section tells bow these shores and also these islands were found.
These coasts are named the shores of Antilia. They were discovered in the year 896 of the Arab
calendar. But it is reported thus, that a Genoese infidel, his name was Colombo, be it was who
discovered these places. For instance, a book fell into the hands of the said Colombo, and be
found it said in this book that at the end of the Western Sea [Atlantic] that is, on its western side,
there were coasts and islands and all kinds of metals and also precious stones. The
abovementioned, having studied this book thoroughly, explained these matters one by one to the
great of Genoa and said: "Come, give me two ships, let me go and find these places." They said:
"O unprofitable man, can an end or a limit be found to the Western Sea? Its vapour is full of
darkness." The above-mentioned Colombo saw that no help was forthcoming from the Genoese,
he sped forth, went to the Bey of Spain [king], and told his tale in detail. They too answered like
the Genoese. In brief Colombo petitioned these people for a long time, finally the Bey of Spain
gave him two ships, saw that they were well equipped, and said:
"O Colombo, if it happens as you say, let us make you kapudan [admiral] to that country." Having
said which be sent the said Colombo to the Western Sea. The late Gazi Kemal had a Spanish
slave. The above-mentioned slave said to Kemal Reis, be bad been three times to that land with
Colombo. He said: "First we reached the Strait of Gibraltar, then from there straight south and
west between the two . . . [illegible]. Having advanced straight four thousand miles, we saw an
island facing us, but gradually the waves of the sea became foamless, that is, the sea was becalmed
and the North Star-the seamen on their compasses still say star-little by little was veiled and
became invisible, and he also said that the stars in that region are not arranged as here. They are
seen in a different arrangement. They anchored at the island which they had seen earlier across
the way, the population of the island came, shot arrows at them and did not allow them to land
and ask for information. The males and the females shot hand arrows. The tips of these arrows
were made of fishbones, and the whole population went naked and also very . . . [illegible].
Seeing that they could not land on that island; they crossed to the other side of the island, they
saw a boat. On seelng them; the boat fled and they [the people in the boat] dashed out on land.
They [the Spaniards] took the boat. They saw that inside of it there was human flesh. It
happened that these people were of that nation which went from island to island hunting men and
eating them. They said Colombo saw yet another island, they neared it, they saw that on that
island there were great snakes. They avoided landing on this island and remained there seventeen
days. The people of this island saw that no harm came to them from this boat, they caught fish
and brought it to them in their small ship's boat [filika]. These [Spaniards] were pleased and gave
them glass beads. It appears that he [Columbus] had read-in the book that in that region glass
beads were valued. Seeing the beads they brought still more fish. These [Spaniards] always gave
them glass beads. One day they saw gold around the arm of a woman, they took the gold and
gave her beads. They said to them, to bring more gold, we will give you more beads, [they said].
They went and brought them much gold. It appears that in their mountains there were gold
mines. One day, also, they saw pearls in the hands of one person. They saw that when; they gave
beads, many more pearls were brought to them. Pearls were found on the shore of this island, in a
spot one or two fathoms deep. And also loading their ship with many logwood trees and taking
two natives along, they carried them within that year to the Bey of Spain. But the said Colombo,
not knowing the language of these people, they traded by signs, and after this trip the Bey of
Spain sent priests and barley, taught the natives how to sow and reap and converted them to his
own religion. They had no religion of any sort. They walked naked and lay there like animals.
Now these regions have been opened to all and have become famous. The names which mark the
places on the said islands and coasts were given by Colombo, that these places may be known by
them. And also Colombo was a great astronomer. The coasts and island on this map are taken
from Colombo's map.
VI.
This section shows in what way this map was drawn. In this century there is no map like this
map in anyone's possession. The-hand of this poor man has drawn it and now it is constructed.
From about twenty charts and Mappae Mundi-these are charts drawn in the days of Alexander,
Lord of the Two Horns, which show the inhabited quarter of the world; the Arabs name these
charts Jaferiye-from eight Jaferiyes of that kind and one Arabic map of Hind, and from the maps
just drawn by four Portuguese which show the countries of Hind, Sind and China geometrically
drawn, and also from a map drawn by Colombo in the western region I have extracted it. By
reducing all these maps to one scale this final form was arrived at. So that the present map is as
correct and reliable for the Seven Seas as the map of these our countries is considered correct and
reliable by seamen.
VII.
It is related by the Portuguese infidel that in this spot night and day are at their shortest of
two hours, at their longest of twenty two hours. But the day is very warm and in the night there
is much dew.
VIII.
On the way to the vilayet of Hind a Portuguese ship encountered a contrary wind [blowing]
from the shore. The wind from the shore . . . [illegible] it [the ship]. After being driven by a
storm in a southern direction they saw a shore opposite them they advanced towards it [illegible].
They saw that these places are good anchorages. They threw anchor and went to the shore in
boats. They saw people walking, all of them naked. But they shot arrows, their tips made of
fishbone. They stayed there eight days. They traded with these people by signs. That barge saw
these lands and wrote about them which. . . . The said barge without going to Hind, returned to
Portugal, where, upon arrival it gave information. . . . They described these shores in detail. . . .
They have discovered them.
IX.
And in this country it seems that there are white-haired monsters in this shape, and also six-horned oxen. The Portuguese infidels have written it in their maps. . . . . This country is a waste.
Everything is in ruin and it is said that large snakes are found here. For this reason the Portuguese
infidels did not land on these shores and these are also said to be very hot.
XI.
And these four ships are Portuguese ships. Their shape is written down. They traveled from
the western land to the point of Abyssinia [Habesh] in order to reach India. They said towards
Chalice. The distance across this gulf is 4200 miles.
XII.
.... on this shore a tower
.... is however
.... in this climate gold
.... taking a rope
.... is said they measured
[NOTE: The fact that half of each of these lines is missing is the clearest proof of the map's
having been tom in two.]
XIII.
And a Genoese kuke [a type of ship] coming from Flanders was caught in a storm.
Impelled by the storm it came upon these islands, and in this manner these islands became known.
XIV
. It is said that in ancient times a priest by the name of Sanvolrandan (Santo Brandan)
traveled on the Seven Seas, so they say. The above-mentioned landed on this fish. They thought
it dry land and lit a fire upon this fish, when the fish's back began to burn it plunged into the sea,
they reembarked in their boats and fled to the ship. This event is not mentioned by the
Portuguese infidels. It is taken from the ancient Mappae Mundi.
XV.
To these small islands they have given the name of Undizi Vergine. That is to say the
Eleven Virgins.
XVI.
And this island they call the Island of Antilia. There are many monsters and parrots and
much logwood. It is not inhabited.
XVII.
This barge was driven upon these shores by a storm and remained where it fell. . . . Its
name was Nicola di Giuvan. On his map it is written that these rivers which can be seen have for
the most part gold [in their beds]. When the water had gone they collected much gold [dust] from
the sand. On their map. . . .
XVIII.
This is the barge from Portugal which encountered a storm and cam( to this land. The
details are written on the edge of this map. [NOTE: see VIII.]
XIX.
The Portuguese infidels do not go west of here. All that side belong,, entirely to Spain.
They have made an agreement that [a line] two thousand mile., to the western side of the Strait of
Gibraltar should be taken as a boundary. The Portuguese do not cross to that side but the Hind
side and the southern side belong to the Portuguese.
XX.
And this caravel having encountered a storm was driven upon this island. Its name was
Nicola Giuvan. And on this island there are many oxen with one horn. For this reason they call
this island Isle de Vacca, which means, Ox Island.
XXI.
The admiral of this caravel is named Messir Anton the Genoese, but be grew up in
Portugal. One day the above-mentioned caravel encountered a storm, it was driven upon this
island. He found much ginger here and has written about these islands.
XXII.
This sea is called the Western Sea, but the Frank sailors call it the Mare d'Espagna. Which
means the Sea of Spain. Up to now it was known by these names, but Colombo, who opened up
this sea and made these islands known, and also the Portuguese, infidels who have opened up the
region of Hind have agreed together to give this sea a new name. They have given it the name of
Ovo Sano [Oceano] that is to say, sound egg. Before this it was thought that the sea had no end
or limit, that at its other end was darkness. Now they have seen that this sea is girded by a coast,
because it is like a lake, they have called it Ovo Sano.
XXIII.
In this spot there are oxen with one horn, and also monsters in this shape.
XXIV.
These monsters are seven spans long. Between their eyes there is a distance of one span.
But they are harmless souls.
*
From The Oldest Map of America, by Professor Dr. Afet Inan. Ankara, 1954, pp. 28-34.