A ninth-century astrolabe: the earliest in Oxford
This is the earliest astrolabe in the Oxford collection and instruments in this style are the earliest to have survived. It probably dates from the late ninth century. A characteristic feature of early astrolabes from Syria is the 'dagger' style of the star pointers on the retes. Though inscribed in Arabic, this example has later additions in Armenian.
Astrolabe, by Khafif, Syro-Egyptian, late 9th century? (Inv. 47632)