June 22, 2013 · 10:52 am
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World Map With Original Place Name Meanings

World map with place names swapped out for their original meanings

The “Atlas of True Names“…

…reveals the etymological roots, or original meanings, of the familiar terms on today’s maps…

For instance, where you would normally expect to see the Sahara indicated, the Atlas gives you “The Tawny One”, derived from Arab. es-sahra “the fawn coloured, desert”….

Update: There is now a more in-depth version specifically for the United States.

(via Weasel King)

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6 responses to “World Map With Original Place Name Meanings”

  1. LionAroundWriting's avatar lionaroundwriting
    June 22, 2013 at 11:04 am

    Fantastic! It reads like Lord of the Rings or a fantasy epic.

    Modern place names are so moribund.

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  2. bluebeadpublications's avatar bluebeadpublications
    June 22, 2013 at 11:32 am

    I always wanted to have something like this.

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  5. andytallman101's avatar andytallman101
    June 23, 2013 at 7:17 pm

    Well I think I’m going to have to refer to Sri Lanka as the Island of Happiness from now on

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