Here Be Dragons — Antique Historical Print

The Story in the Margin

The Latin phrase "HIC SVNT DRACONES," or "here be dragons," appears on only one known historical map, the Hunt-Lenox Globe, a small copper globe made around 1503 to 1510 and now held by the New York Public Library. Positioned near the eastern coast of Asia, the phrase may have referred to the Komodo dragons of the Indonesian archipelago, and it replaced the more common medieval convention of writing "HIC SVNT LEONES," or "here are lions," over unknown territories. Despite becoming a popular catchphrase for the unmapped edges of old maps, genuine dragon warnings like this one were exceedingly rare, and the Hunt-Lenox Globe's brief inscription is responsible for almost the entire modern myth.

Materials & origin

• Material: 200 gsm gallery-grade, acid-free fine-art paper (FSC-certified).
• Print: Archival giclée, 12-colour printing, smooth matte finish for glare-free display.
• Artwork: Restored from a public-domain original; colour and detail digitally cleaned for large-format print.
• Origin: Made on demand and shipped from the print hub nearest you, cutting transit and waste.
• Framing: Sold unframed; ships rolled in a protective tube.