Hemelkaart van het stelsel van Ptolemaeus 1660 - 1708

This is an anonymous celestial map of the Ptolemaic system. At a time when knowledge was power, maps of the heavens reflected not just scientific understanding, but also deep-seated cultural and religious beliefs about humanity’s place in the universe. In a world where the Earth was believed to be the center of all things, this image is more than just a diagram; it’s a statement of identity. Notice how the planets are arranged around us, reinforcing a sense of centrality. But who was included in this ‘us’? Who got to define the world view? Consider those who were excluded from the map-making process. What alternative understandings of the cosmos were never given a voice? This map invites us to think about whose knowledge counts, and how the stories we tell about the universe reflect our own place within it.