Compass rose

A compass rose is a figure displaying the orientation of the cardinal directions, north, south, east and west on a map. Naming all 32 points on the rose is called boxing the compass. A fleur-de-lis figure, evolved from the initial T in the north wind's name Tramontana, is sometimes used to indicate the north direction. Similarly, on old maps the east was marked with an L for Levante, or with a + indicating the direction of Jerusalem from the point of view of western Europe's countries.

The "rose" term arises from the fairly ornate figures used with early compasses. Today the use and idea of a compass rose is found on or features in almost all navigation systems, including nautical charts, NDB and VOR systems, some GPS sets and similar.