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Considering that Piri Reis was the nephew of Kemal Reis, a famous Turkish
seafarer, that he spent many years of his youth sailing the Mediterranean as a corsair,
and that he later became an admiral of the Ottoman fleet, there is little doubt that the
nautical charts he made had a practical purpose. 32 The springs along the coastline where
sailors could get fresh water are carefully marked, along with the landmarks visible from
the sea, the cities close to the coast, the rivers, the dangerous shoals, and even the harbor
entrances. The written commentary that accompanies each map provides detailed
information about the distances from place to place, the local toponyms, and short notes
and remarks that Piri Reis jotted down while visiting these shores.
A quick comparison of Figures 2 and 9 gives a good idea of the accuracy of Piri
Reis' 16 th -century map. The promontories of Capo Colonna, Capo Cimiti, Capo Bianco,
Capo Rizzuto, and Le Castella are well represented. Two fresh-water springs are visible,
two rivers, and two columns still standing on the tip of Capo Colonna. Today only one
Doric column survives; its companion probably collapsed during an earthquake in
1638. 33 Two islands are clearly visible in front of Le Castella, and in the written
commentary Piri Reis adds:
Atop it [the cape] is a castle called Kastalu. There is a cove on either side
of this castle and these coves are safe havens for small vessels. A mile
opposite there are two small islets. Ships can pass between the islets and
32 Afetinan 1975, 9-27.
33 Galli, Ruga, Scionti, and Spadea 2006, 446, fig. 2. See also Chapter II, p. 42, n. 17.
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