CHARTING A COURSE WITH A COMPASS
Compass roses were used for sailors to draw the angles at which they wished to sail--northeast, north by northeast, south, and so on--on a map. Portuguese map-maker Pedro Reinel first drew the the fleur-de-lis indicating north at the top of the standard 32 point compass rose. He also used a cross (on the right side) to show east (toward the Holy Land). His son Jorge Reinel drew the compass rose below.