Where Monsters, Myths and Magic Maps Are Found
A map of mythical sea creatures: Theatrvm orbis terrarvm. Creator: Ortelius, Abraham. 1595. HC.FB.2016.0053. i23183755. Abraham Ortelius, a mapmaker known for creating the first modern atlas, included sea monsters especially on the map of Iceland. These fantastical creatures, often inspired by legends and mariners' tales, filled the unknown and dangerous areas, adding mystery and wonder. Part of Heritage Collections at Qatar National Library.
Libraries are the sacred vaults of human imagination—guardians of worlds both real and dreamed.
Within their hushed halls, carefully-bound atlases whisper of lands where dragons circle uncharted islands in the world’s first modern atlases, and ancient manuscripts crackle with the magic of One Thousand and One Arabian Nights, where Jinn, known as Genies, defy time and cunning figures like viziers spin fate like silk.
Here we share some of the magic of imagined worlds through a collaboration with Qatar National Library (QNL) by showcasing a selection of some of their treasures, as curated by Aysha Hassan Al Ansari, the Head of Heritage Collections at QNL.
These are not mere books or atlases or pages, but rather magical portals—where a child can vanish into a magical world, a scholar can debate with Ibn Sina’s ghost, and a poet can trace the footsteps of Antarah’s epic love.
In libraries, ink and parchment become alchemy, transforming curiosity into fire, and every reader—whether flipping pages or scrolling on screens—joins the oldest human ritual: the endless, hungry chase for magical stories that help make the universe feel vast, interconnected and wondrous.
Ibn Tufail's Hayy Ibn Yaqdhan is a 12th-century Arabic philosophical novel about a child who discovers truth through reason while living alone on a desolate island.
This work influenced Arabic, Persian, and European literature, and the philosophical thoughts it expresses are reflected in the works of influential Western philosophers like Hobbes, Locke, and Kant.
This rare Dutch edition, reissued with a new title page and edited by Adriaan Reland from a Latin version, offers readers a new chance to explore this thought-provoking work.
The first Dutch edition dates back to 1672 CE.
Hayy ibn Yaqdhan, by Ibn Tufail, Dutch version, Tot Utrecht, Hendrik Schouten, 1721. HC.FB.2013.0252. i16843666. Part of Heritage Collections at Qatar National Library. Public Domain.
Antoine Galland (d. 1715) was the first European translator of the One Thousand and One Nights. His version appeared in 12 volumes from 1704 to 1717, and was adapted to the taste of the time. It had a significant influence on later European literature and attitudes to the Islamic world. Some scholars attribute the tales of Aladdin and Alibaba to him.
One Thousand and One Nights by Antoine Galland (d. 1715). Barde, Manget & Compagnie. Geneva, 1790. HC.FB.04341.01. Part of Heritage Collections at Qatar National Library. Public Domain.
One Thousand and One Nights by Antoine Galland (d. 1715). Barde, Manget & Compagnie. Geneva, 1790. HC.FB.04341.01. Part of Heritage Collections at Qatar National Library. Public Domain.
The full title: Theatrum orbis terrarum / opus nunc denuo ab ipso auctore recognitum, multisquè locis castigatum, & quamplurimis nouis tabulis atquè commentarijs auctum. Abraham Ortelius (1527 -1598), a Flemish cartographer and dealer in maps, books, antiquities, is known for creating the first modern atlas and even included sea monsters (especially on the map of Iceland). These fantastical creatures, often inspired by legends and mariners' tales, filled the unknown and dangerous areas, adding mystery and wonder.
A map of mythical sea creatures: Theatrvm orbis terrarvm. Creator: Ortelius, Abraham. 1595. HC.FB.2016.0053. i23183755. Abraham Ortelius, a mapmaker known for creating the first modern atlas, included sea monsters especially on the map of Iceland. These fantastical creatures, often inspired by legends and mariners' tales, filled the unknown and dangerous areas, adding mystery and wonder. Part of Heritage Collections at Qatar National Library. No known Copyright.
Map of Egypt (1729) showing the Nile River and Delta. There are 30 vignette illustrations of early Egyptian gods and symbols. Egypt then, and today, continues to inspire imagination and stories, especially given their ancient mysteries.
Map of Egypt: Egyptenland met zyn Bescherm - Goden die aldaar Volgens doude verdeeling der Ryks. Aa, Pieter van der, 1659-1733. Published in 1729. HC.MAP.00908. i11402349.
Part of Heritage Collections at Qatar National Library. No known copyright.
This is the first look at our collaboration with Qatar National Library (QNL).
We hope our readers enjoy discovering and rediscovering treasures in QNL and perhaps, some other forgotten treasures in our own libraries.
