Welsh Country - Issue88 - May - Jun 19

The
and the
Parson
In the words of the Parson
Publican
In the dim recesses of
my memory I seem
to recall as a child
being brought to Hereford
Cathedral to see a funny
looking map. This map,
decorated with strange
looking animals and such
like, was to found around
the back of the organ. It
was behind glass and there
was a button to press that
turned on the light. One
then peered through the
reflections at a rather dark
and largely impenetrable
“thing” whilst being told by
accompanying adult with
educational tendencies that
it was a most remarkable
“thing”. The light would
then go off and if we were
lucky we could press the
button to make it come
on again. Children
being what they are, and I
being as I am, the best bit
was putting light on.
No more. Now the Mappi
Mundi is recognised as
“An outstanding treasure
of the Medieval World.”
It is housed in a chamber
designed entirely for that
purpose with controlled
light levels and reverent
silence. The approach is
through the cloisters and
an exhibition explaining
the place of the map in its
own world and the unique
contribution it makes to
our understanding of the
medieval mind. So a casual
observer would have found
the Old Licensed Victualler
(OLV) and I peering at
what appears to be half
man, half parsnip and is
in fact a Mandrake.
visit Hereford Cathedral
& Diego's Café
For the dim recesses of the
mind were not so mistaken;
when we do see the original
Mappa Mundi time and
lighting make it hard to
discern the details. It matters
little; it is enough to stand
and stare at this remarkable
survival from another time.
The past is indeed another
country, indeed another
planet if the geography of
this map is anything to go by.
The exhibition that leads one
towards the viewing is very
good. By the time we reach
the hallowed portals of the
viewing chamber we have
gleaned something of the
world in which the map was
created and the philosophy it
represents. I like maps and I
like a map to tell me not only
how to get where I want to
go but to give me some idea
of what I might see en route.
With Jerusalem at the centre
of a very flat earth I am not
sure that I would trust the
map to get me anywhere
but I would really like to see
some of what is on the way.
A very good facsimile with
original colouring allows us
to understand the map and
we spend a long time with
noses pressed close, almost
touching in the OLV's case,
to appreciate the details and
mythical beasts.
36
www.welshcountry.co.uk
“
This really is a remarkable space and
we dwell for some time in appreciation
before making our way to lunch.
”