In ancient times, before the magnetic compass was invented, winds were used by mariners to designate direction, and were named after the lands or astronomical directions from which they originated. Over the centuries, the number of named winds increased progressively from the original four cardinal directions to as many as thirty-two, with a confusing array of names based on mythological gods, associated astronomical or weather conditions, and in Greek, Latin, and other languages. Adding to the confusion, different names were often applied to the same direction, and sometimes a single name was used for different directions. To clarify this chaotic situation, a schematic diagram called a "wind rose" was developed and was widely adopted as a useful and often decorative addition to maps and charts. The colorful example seen here displays thirty-two winds with their various names, along with imaginative "wind heads" or "wind blowers" surrounding the central diagram. The wind rose was eventually replaced by a similar but more precise "compass rose" displaying directions as determined by a magnetized needle.