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The German term "Weltbild", like the modern term "Weltanschauung", is difficult to translate linguistically. "Weltbilder" are transcendent borderline images of human visualization. They are either cartographic or cosmographic representations of human spatial experience or representations of conceptual and spiritual "inner worlds", or also direct performative orchestrations of images by political or religious communities (geography, cosmography, encyclopaedia). They have an orientation function, a community-building function, preform ways of thinking, perceptions, evaluations, feelings and actions and are therefore also of general educational, psychotherapeutic and art educational relevance. The text distinguishes between different categories of worldviews and shows how "Weltbilder" and "Weltanschauungen" become historically effective. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The paper discusses the landscapes of Apollo, Hermes, Pan, and Demeter in the Homeric hymns, analysing how particular landscape representations articulate the gods’ functions and identities, their relationship to humanity and the structure of the Olympic cosmos. It is argued that an in-depth examination of the representation of landscape in Ancient literature reveals patterns of representation that contribute to a deeper understanding of the religious worldview of the ancient Greeks.

The article aims to examine the formation of geographical realities in the media by so called world insiders. It highlights the application of two theoretical approaches such as discourse and performance or performativity. It notes that the theoretical connection between the discursive and argumentative level on the one hand and the performative level on the other hand melds verbal and non-verbal geography-making.

The article reports on a September 2009 scholarly conference held in Aachen, Germany, titled "Borders and Border Crossings. Status and Perspectives of Early Modern Research. 8th Working Conference of the Working Group 'Early Modern' in the Association of German Historians." The cosmography, topographical understanding, and environmental awareness of people in the early modern era were discussed. Additional presentation topics included cartography, the segregation of Jews, and the mobility of Jesuits and Franciscans.