Interactive digital version of 16th-century Iceland map created

Hjálmar Gíslason, CEO of the technology company GRID, has developed a digital, interactive version of a 16th-century map of Iceland originally drawn by Bishop Guðbrandur Þorláksson.

Gíslason, a self-proclaimed "insatiable nerd" with a passion for computers and technology, has been fascinated by the map since childhood. He recalls cutting out a picture of it from a chocolate box, captivated by its "treasure map" style, complete with illustrations of monsters and mythical beings.

The interactive map aims to clarify the details and locations depicted on the original, which Gíslason encountered again recently at the Sea Monster Museum in Bíldudalur. He decided to create the digital version to make the historical map more accessible and understandable.

Utilizing artificial intelligence in his work, Gíslason's project brings the historical map to life, offering a new way to explore its intricacies. He notes that modern tools like Google Maps lack the fantastical elements of sea monsters and land spirits found on Bishop Guðbrandur's map, and dismisses the legend of a man-eating whale as pure sailor's lore.