Design

• There is no standard design for a compass rose; some indicate north with a spearhead, a fleur-de-lys, a cross, or one of many other symbols.
  
  

Points

• There are, however, officially 32 points on a compass rose and standard names for each point: North, North by East, North-North-East, Northeast by North, Northeast, Northeast by East, East-North-East, East by North ... and so on. This pattern repeats for east, south and west.
  
  

History

• The points were originally designed to indicate wind direction. Winds were categorized as major winds (of which there were eight), half-winds (also eight), and quarter-winds (of which there were 16).
  
  

Color

• The eight major-wind points of the compass are usually printed in black ink; the eight half-wind points are usually blue or green; and the 16 quarter-wind points are usually red.
  
  

Fun Facts

• The eight major winds were named during the Middle Ages: tramontana (N), greco (NE), levante (E), siroco (SE), ostro (S), libeccio (SW), ponente (W) and maestro (NW).
  
  The Chinese divide their compasses in 12 sections representing the signs of the zodiac.