Astrolabe Catalogue

 

Front of astrolabe without rete or plates. Click to enlarge
Date ca. 1700
Maker Khalīl Muḥammad ibn Ḥasan ‘Alī
Place Iṣfahān
Material Brass
Inventory no. 35313
Acquisition Presented by J. A. Billmeir in 1957

Throne

The throne is of the indo-persian, pierced type . The throne is attached with a integrated base. Pierced with four 'arabesques', the throne bears inscriptions on both sides. Extensive embossing also decorates both sides of the throne. Markings:
Content Translation Notes Type
وسع كرسيه السماوات و الارض His throne extends over the heavens and the earth Qur'anic verse
صنعه خليل محمّد Made by Khalīl Muḥammad Maker's signature


Ring

The ring is of the simple, squared cross-section type (i.e. a simple ring made from a round rod or piece of metal).

Shackle

Shackle of the omega type (i.e. Ω-shaped shackle). Decorative tabs and a pin attach the shackle to the throne..

Mater

The mater and limb are of one-piece construction. The tab to keep the tympans in place is located at the bottom of the instrument, 180° from the throne. Scales on the limb:
Type Range & Units Numbered Geometry Location
Degree 0 - 360 Degrees of arc Every 5 degrees Circular, concentric None

The limb is inscribed:
Content Translation Notes Type
[inscription on edge of limb] [ pending ] None

Womb


The womb contains a gazetteer with coordinates for 46 cities:
City
(on instrument)
Translation
(when known)
Longitude Latitude Inhiraf Jihat
مكه Mecca 77°10 21°40 00
مدينه Medina 75°20 25°00 37°10 SHJ
قيراون Qayrawan 41°00 31°40 81°47 SHJ
مصر Misr 63°20 30°20 18°38 SHJ
صنعا Ṣana‘a 77°00 14°30 01°15 SHSH
لحسا Lahsa 83°30 24°00 69°30 GHJ
بيت المقدس Bait al-Maqdis 66°30 31°50 45°56 JAQ
دمشق Dimashq 70°00 33°15 30°31 GHJ
حلب Halab 72°10 35°50 18°29 GHJ
موصل Mosul 87°00 34°30 04°52 GHJ
اردبيل Ardabil 82°30 38°00 17°13 GHJ
نخجوان Nakhijewan 81°15 38°40 12°15 GHJ
مراغه Maragheh 82°00 37°20 16°17 GHJ
تبريز Tabriz 82°00 38°00 15°40 GHJ
سرمن راى Surra Man Ra’a 79°00 34°00 07°16 GHJ
بغداد Baghdad 80°00 33°25 12°15 GHJ
واسط Wasit 81°30 32°20 20°14 GHJ
بصره Basr 84°00 30°00 37°19 GHJ
شوشتر Shushtar 84°30 31°30 35°24 GHJ
اهواز Ahwaz 85°00 31°00 40°30 GHJ
كازرون Kazerun 87°00 29°15 51°17 GHJ
شيراز Shiraz 88°00 29°16 13°18 GHJ
يزد Yazd 89°00 32°00 48°29 GHJ
همدان Hamadan 83°00 35°10 22°16 GHJ
قزوين Qazvin 85°00 36°00 27°34 GHJ
اصفهان Iṣfahan 86°40 32°25 40°28 GHJ
كاشان Kashan 86°00 34°00 34°31 GHJ
رى Rayy 86°20 34°00 36°26 GHJ
طالقان Taliqan 85°45 36°10 29°33 GHJ
استراباد Asterabad 89°35 36°50 38°48 GHJ
جرفادمان Gerfadman 85°30 34°15 38°41 GHJ
طوس Ṭus 92°30 37°00 45°06 GHJ
نيشابور Nishapur 92°30 36°21 46°25 GHJ
سبزوار Sabzawar 104°30 40°50 20°09 GHJ
ترشش Turshiz 92°00 35°00 48°51 GHJ
سمنان Semnan 88°00 36°00 36°17 GHJ
دامغان Damghan 88°55 36°20 38°00 GHJ
تون Tun 92°30 34°30 50°20 GHJ
قاين Qayen 93°20 33°40 14°01 GHJ
مرو Marw 97°00 37°40 12°30 GHJ
بدخشان Badakhshan 104°24 37°10 64°09 GHJ
كابل Kabul 104°40 34°36 69°35 GHJ
هراة Herat 94°20 34°30 54°08 GHJ
كرمان Kerman 92°30 29°50 60°51 GHJ
ملتان Multan 107°35 29°40 80°48 GHJ
قنداهر Qandahar 107°40 33°00 75°05 GHJ
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