Erdapfel

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Martin Behaim with his Erdapfel

Behaim's Erdapfel

Projection of the Behaim Erdapfel, 1492

Oceanic area described on the Martin Behaim globe.

The Erdapfel (German: earth apple) produced by Martin Behaim in 1492 is considered to be one of the first terrestrial globes ever made. It is constructed of a metal ball overlaid with a map painted by Georg Glockendon.

The Americas are not included, as Columbus returned to Spain no sooner than March 1493 to Europe. The globe shows an enlarged Eurasian continent and an empty ocean between Europe and Asia. The mythical island of Saint Brendan is included. Japan and Asian islands are disproportionately large.

The idea to call the globe "apple" may be related to the Reichsapfel ("Imperial Apple", Globus cruciger) which was also kept in Nuremberg along with the Imperial Regalia (Reichskleinodien).

From its creation until early in the 16th century, it stood in a reception room in the Nuremberg town hall. After that time it was held by the Behaim family. In 1907, it was transferred to the Germanic Museum in Nuremberg.