Date | 17th century |
Place | India (?) |
Material | Brass |
Inventory no. | 33796 |
Acquisition | Presented by A. E. Gunther in 1986 |
This unusual form of astrolabe has two horizon bands included in the rete, along with two meridian bands rising from them and, in effect, forming a complete meridian. The horizons are for 29 and 36 degrees and are set opposed to each other in the rete. The rest of the rete has star pointers and an ecliptic circle in the usual way. So the rete works in three modes - in reference to the heavens and to two local latitudes - and in the latter cases is used in conjunction with the corresponding latitude plates to achieve an extended range of functions. This zawraq or 'ship' rete is visualised as containing two representations of ships, with each horizon band marked as a 'ship' and the corresponding meridian band as its 'mast'.
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Mater
The mater and limb are of one-piece construction. Scales on the limb: degree scale.The limb is inscribed: with a city name marked as [The edge of the limb is inscribed with a gazetteer.]. More information
Back
The back contains 12 scales of the following types: Altitude; Declination; Azimuth of Qibla; Sine/Cosine; Cotangent; Shadow square; Lunar Mansions; Zodiacal signs. More informationRete, Pin & Horse
The rete contains 0 stars. The zodiac on the rete is labelled: الحمل , الشور , الجوزا , السرطان , الاسد , السنبله , الميزان , العقرب , القوس , الجدي , الدلو , الحوت .The rete is inscribed with a latitude marked as: [along tropic of capricorn]. [ pending ].The rete is attached using a pin & horse. Neither the simple pin nor the horse look original to the instrument.. More information
Rules & Alidades
Type | Details |
---|---|
Alidade | Double-ended. Both sights are a bit askew and loose.
The alidade is cracked at the base of the left
sight.. |