In the first two thirds of the 16th century, the whole of Africa south of the Sahara was commonly referred to as Aethiopia. Ancient writings also described the interior as an impenetrable wilderness inhabited by strange creatures. The peoples of Africa are described in this vein in the works of Johann Auban Boem. More realistic descriptions were provided mainly by the travelogues of Portuguese and later Dutch navigators, which were published in Central Europe under the editorial concept of Theodor de Bry.