Compass roses

You don't throw a compass overboard because the ocean is calm.
~Matshona Dhliwayo

Finding your way? Compass roses today!

What is a compass rose? It's a "figure on a compass, map, nautical chart, or monument used to display the orientation of the cardinal directions" (north, south, east, west). In French, it's a "rose des vents" (wind-rose).

Replica of the main compass rose of the Cantino planisphere, 1502
by Joaquim Alves Gaspar

Replica of compass rose in Pedro Reinel's nautical chart of 1504. It is the first known wind-rose to clearly represent the fleur-de-lys. The practise was adopted in other nautical charts and continues through today.
by Joaquim Alves Gaspar

Portolan Atlas and Nautical Almanac, 1543
by Guillaume Brouscon

Rose des Vents
Georges Clerc-Rampal, 1913

Compass rose with 128 points
by Xovimat

Compass Card
by Denelson83

Last quote:
We are asleep with compasses in our hands.
~W. S. Merwin