Exhibition: The Astrolabe, East and West

Peace in Toledo

Toledo, where this astrolabe was made, is famous as a centre for Muslim culture in medieval Spain, shared with Jews and Christians. The places cited on the latitude plates include 'Mecca, Allah protect her' and 'city of the Prophet', i.e. Medina. Toledo is included, as are places whose names have recently been associated with less happy events: Azerbaijan, Baghdad, Kabul, Kandahar and Mosul.