Map of the month: August

Edenburgum, Scotiae Metropolis

'Edenburgum, Scotiae Metropolis',
Cologne: G Braun and F Hogenberg, 1582.

Made in 1582, 'Edenburgum' is a bird-eye plan of the city of Edinburgh, and was included in the atlas 'Civitates orbis terrarum' between 1578 and 1617.

Edited by Georg Braun and engraved by Franz Hogenberg, it was designed to accompany their supporter Abraham Ortelius's world atlas 'Theatrum orbis terrarum'.

The plan was reproduced in different forms by later mapmakers, including a version without the foreground figures.

There are conflicting stories about some features on the map, most notably the name 'Castrum Puellarum' above the castle. According to different sources, the maidens or girls referred to could be either the young entourage of Mary Queen of Scots, or long-ago captives of the Picts.