West
One of four cardinal directions, opposite east, where the Sun sets.
West is one of the four cardinal directions or points of the compass. It is the opposite direction from east and is the direction in which the Sun sets on the Earth. The word 'west' derives from the Indo-European root *wes, cognate with Ancient Greek ἕσπερος and Latin vesper, both meaning 'evening' or 'west'.
- type
- Cardinal direction
- abbreviation
- W
- opposite direction
- East
- etymology
- Germanic word from Indo-European *wes ('evening')
- cultural associations
- Western world, Western Roman Empire, Western Christianity
Lore & Background
West is the direction opposite that of the Earth's rotation on its axis, and is therefore the general direction towards which the Sun appears to constantly progress and eventually set. This is not true on the planet Venus, which rotates in the opposite direction from the Earth; to an observer on the surface of Venus, the Sun would rise in the west and set in the east. In a map with north at the top, west is on the left. Moving continuously west is following a circle of latitude.
Reader's Guide
The concept of the West carries deep cultural and symbolic meanings. The phrase 'the West' often refers to the Western world, including the European Union, the United Kingdom, the Americas, Israel, Australia, New Zealand, and in part South Africa. Its roots lie in the Western Roman Empire and Western Christianity. During the Cold War, 'the West' was often used to refer to the NATO camp as opposed to the Warsaw Pact and non-aligned nations, though the expression survives with an increasingly ambiguous meaning. Symbolically, in Chinese Buddhism the West represents movement toward the Buddha or enlightenment. The ancient Aztecs believed the West was the realm of the great goddess of water, mist, and maize. In Ancient Egypt, the West was considered the portal to the netherworld, associated with death. The Celts believed that beyond the western sea lay the Otherworld or Afterlife. In Judaism, west is seen to be toward the Shekinah of God. In Islam, the Qur'an states that to God belong the East and the West, emphasizing divine omnipresence. In American literature, moving West has sometimes symbolized gaining freedom, associated with the settling of the Wild West.
Did You Know?
- West is abbreviated as W.
- Due to Earth's rotation, prevailing winds in middle latitudes (35 to 65 degrees) are from the west, known as the westerlies.
- On Venus, which rotates opposite to Earth, the Sun would rise in the west and set in the east.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is West in the context of maps and compass symbols?
West is one of the four cardinal directions, marked by the single-letter abbreviation W on compass roses and map legends. It identifies the direction in which the Sun sets on Earth.
Where does the word 'west' come from?
The term traces back to the Indo-European root *wes, meaning 'evening,' which also produced Latin 'vesper' and Ancient Greek 'hesperos.' In Germanic languages this root evolved into the word we now use for the direction where the Sun disappears.
What cultural associations does West carry in cartography?
On maps, West frequently evokes the Western Roman Empire, Western Christianity, and the broader idea of the 'Western world.' These links make the direction more than a simple geographic marker in historical and political cartography.
Elsewhere in the Maps & Their Symbols universe
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