From MapHist.com - Glossary of Terms for historical maps

Glossary of Terms
Compass rose
By Pierre Joppen
Jul 7, 2004, 08:44

A circle drawn on a map, (usually a navigational chart) which is subdivided in a clockwise direction from 0° to 360° , with 0° indicating true North.

On older maps and charts, it was a decorated diagram of cardinal directions, divided into 32 points, originally called rosa ventorum, or "rose of the winds".



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