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. 42649
Acquisition Purchased from C. E. Ross in 1925

Throne

The throne is of the indo-persian, engraved type . The throne is attached with a integrated base. The front is filled with a Qur'anic quotation in small lettering. The back is xxxx.. Markings:
Content Translation Notes Type
الله لا إله إلا هو الحي القيوم لا تأخذه سنة ولا نوم له ما في السماوات وما في الأرض من ذا الذي يشفع عنده إلا بإذنه يعلم ما بين أيديهم وما خلفهم ولا يحيطون بشئ من علمه إلا بما شاء وسع كرسيه السماوات والأرض ولا يؤوده حفظهما وهو العلي العظيم God: there is no god but Him, the Ever Living, the Ever Watchful. Neither slumber nor sleep overtakes Him. All that is in the heavens and in the earth belongs to Him. Who is there that can intercede with Him except by His leave? He knows what is before them and what is behind them, but they do not comprehend any of His knowledge except what He wills. His throne extends over the heavens and the earth; it does not weary Him to preserve them both. He is the Most High, the Tremendous. Qur'anic verse


Ring

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

Shackle

Shackle of the omega type (i.e. Ω-shaped shackle). .

Mater

The mater and limb are of one-piece construction. The tab that prevents the plates from rotating is integrated into the bottom of the limb. Scales on the limb:
Type Range & Units Numbered Geometry Location
Degree 0 - 360 Degrees Every 5 degrees Circular, concentric outer

Womb


The womb contains a gazetteer with coordinates for 34 cities:
City
(on instrument)
Translation
(when known)
Longitude Latitude Inhiraf Jihat
مكه Mecca 77°20 21°40 00 00
مصر Misr 63°20 30°20 18°38 SHJ
صنعا Sana’a 77°0 14°30 01°15 SHSH
لحسا Lahsa 83°30 24°00 69°30 GHJ
بيت المقدس Bait al-Maqdis 66°30 31°50 45°16 SHJ
دمشق Dimashq 70°00 33°15 30°31 SHJ
حلب Halab 72°10 35°50 18°29 SHJ
موصل Mosul 77°00 34°30 07°12 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 [none]
اردبيل Ardabil 82°30 38°00 17°33 GHJ
س مراى Samira 79°00 34°00 7°56 GHJ
كوفه Kufa 79°30 31°30 12°31 GHJ
بغداد Baghdad 80°00 33°25 12°45 GHJ
بصره Basr 84°00 30°00 37°19 GHJ
شوشتر Shushtar 84°30 31°30 36°24 GHJ
شيراز Shiraz 88°00 29°36 33°38 GHJ
يزد Yazd 89°00 32°00 48°28 GHJ
قزوين Qazvin 85°00 36°00 27°34 GHJ
اصفهان Isfahan 86°40 32°25 40°18 GHJ
كشان Kashan 86°00 34°00 34°31 GHJ
مدينه Medina 75°20 24°00 35°20 SHJ
شروان Shirwan 91°30 36°00 44°13 GHJ
نيشابور Nishapur 92°30 36°21 46°25 GHJ
طوس Ṭus 92°30 37°00 45°06 GHJ
مرو Marw 97°00 37°40 12°30 GHJ
كابل Kabul 104°40 34°24 69°35 GHJ
اكرة 104°00 27°18 91°00 GHJ
بدخشان Badakhshan 104°24 37°20 64°19 GHJ
بخارا Bukhara 97°30 39°50 49°37 GHJ
سمرقند Samarqand 99°16 39°37 14°14 GHJ
قنداهر Qandahar 107°40 33°00 75°00 GHJ
ملتان Multan 107°35 29°40 80°48 GHJ
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