Compass Rose Definition

Compass Rose refers to a circular design used on maps indicating the directions. The fleur-de-lis decoration began to appear in Portuguese maps of 1500s with religious and geographic symbolism. East symbolized Jerusalem or Holy Land, and denoted with a cross in the early maps. Compass Rose pointed mainly to the four directions, but may also depict 8, 16 and 32 points to help travelers.
            
 
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