Map of the Norwegian and Bothnian Vortices

This is a black-and-white copperplate engraving showing a map of Scandinavia and Northern Europe. The most striking features are two large, spiraling whirlpools depicted in the sea off the coast of Norway labeled 'Norvegianus Vortex' and another in the Gulf of Bothnia labeled 'Vortex Bodnicus', connected by a dotted line labeled 'Meatus subterraneus' (subterranean passage). The coastline is stylized, and the map includes a cartouche in the lower right corner containing the Latin title. The hatching lines for the water provide a sense of movement, emphasizing the powerful, swirling nature of the depicted vortices.

This image originates from Athanasius Kircher’s 'Mundus Subterraneus' (1664), a seminal work of natural philosophy that attempted to map the earth's interior dynamics. It reflects the early modern scientific fascination with terrestrial mechanics, positing that global tides were driven by a complex system of interconnected subterranean abysses and channels.