Coming from the time of the great navigations, the Rose of the Winds It is an instrument that plays a role in geographic navigation and is used to help locate of a certain body or object in relation to another, in addition to facilitating visualization with the balance of the vessel.
It is formed by the cardinal points and their intermediaries (collaterals and subcollaterals) that have the intention of defining the different orientations to which different directions point.
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Are they:
- Cardinal points: North (N), South (S), East (E) and West (W)
- Collateral Points: Northeast (NE), Southeast (SE), Northwest (NW) and Southwest (SW).
- Subcollateral Points: north-northeast (NNE), north-northwest (NNW), south-southeast (SSE), south-southwest (SSW), east-northeast (ENE), east-southeast (ESE), west-southeast (WSE) ) and west-southwest (WSW).
History of the Wind Rose
Invented approximately in the 14th century, the Rose of the Winds was an instrument of cartographic function, having its origin in the navigations through the Mediterranean Sea, being used the from the movement of the local winds, the directions of the eight main winds, the eight secondary winds and the sixteen complementary winds (totaling 32 directions).
Initially, the instrument had another format, but the traditional one that is currently known was thanks to the Portuguese, Flávio Gioia, who in 1302 altered the compass that was used on board a vessel, in order to place the needle of this instrument on a card with a drawing of a Rose of the Winds.
The expression “Rose of the Winds” arises then, due to the graphic similarity of the cardinal points with the petals of roses.
This instrument constitutes a great achievement for navigation, since it allowed to expand the expansion of maritime exploration, in any weather conditions.
Symbol of the Wind Rose
Currently, the image of the wind rose, in addition to having a connection to ideas of location, whether physical or symbolic, this figure is linked to a symbolic value from behind. It conveys the idea of “wish for good luck”, the right course, the thoughtful decision, the best choice, luck and “good winds”, or the desire to reach new directions in life. For this reason, it is very common for people to choose such a figure to get tattoos.