Astrolabe Catalogue

 

Front of astrolabe without rete or plates. Click to enlarge
Date ca. 1710
Maker Khalīl Muḥammad ibn Ḥasan ‘Alī
Place Iṣfahān
Material Brass
Inventory no. 33739
Acquisition Presented by J. A. Billmeir in 1957

Throne

The throne is of the indo-persian, engraved type . The throne is attached with a integrated base. Scalloped throne, with 5 small lobes, simple scroll work at the bottom. Extensive inscription on front, shorter inscription on back surrounded by foliate decoration.

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). Tabs on ring decorated as leaves.

Mater

The mater and limb are of one-piece construction. There is a short inscription at the bottom of the limb. This instrument has a tab on the limb, inside the mater, to hold the tympans in place rather than a notch in the mater and a tab on the plates. 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 gazeteer. 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°0 37°10
مصر Misr 63°20 30°20 18°38
صنعا Sana’a 77°0 14°30 01°15
لحسا Lahsa 83°30 24°00 69°30
بيت المقدس Bait al-Maqdis 66°30 31°50 45°16
دمشق Dimashq 70°00 33°15 30°31
حلب Halab 72°10 35°50 18°29
موصل Mosul 77°00 34°30 07°12
نخجوان Nakhijewan 81°15 38°40 12°15
مراغه Maragheh 82°00 37°20 16°17
تبريز Tabriz 82°00 38°00 15°40
اردبيل Ardabil 82°30 38°00 17°33
سرمن راى Surra Man Ra’a 79°00 34°00 07°16
كوفى Kufa 79°30 31°30 12°31
بغداد Baghdad 80°00 33°25 12°45
بصره Basr 84°00 30°00 37°19
شوشتر Shushtar 84°30 31°30 35°25
كازرون Kazerun 87°00 29°15 11°17
شيراز Shiraz 88°00 29°26 33°38
يزد Yazd 89°00 32°00 48°28
همدان Hamadan 83°00 35°10 22°16
قزوين Qazvin 85°00 36°00 27°34
جرفادمان Gerfadman 85°30 34°14 33°41
اصفهان Isfahan 86°40 32°25 40°18
كشان Kashan 86°00 34°00 34°31
قم Qom 85°40 34°45 31°14
ظالقان Taliqan 85°45 36°10 29°13
استراباد Asterabad 89°35 36°50 18°38
سمنان Semnan 88°00 36°00 36°17
دامغان Damghan 88°15 36°20 38°00
مشهد Meshhad 92°30 37°00 44°06
نيشابور Nishapur 92°30 36°21 46°26
تون Tun 92°30 34°30 50°20
سبزوار Sabzawar 91°30 36°00 44°12
هراة Herat 91°20 34°30 34°08
قاين Qayen 93°20 33°40 14°36
بلخ Balkh 41°00 36°41 65°36
هرموز Hormoz 92°00 25°00 74°30
كرمان Kerman 92°30 29°50 62°11
قنداهر Qandahar 107°40 33°00 75°05
لهاور Lahore 109°20 31°15 78°26
كشمر Kashmir 88°00 31°00 75°20
كنجه Ganjah 83°00 41°20 15°49
تفليس Tiflis 83°00 43°00 14°41
شروان Shirwan 91°30 36°00 44°13
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