Exhibition: The Astrolabe, East and West


The ship rete

An astrolabe with an unusual 'zawraq' or 'ship' form of rete. There is a complete meridian band and bands for the 'oblique' horizons for latitudes 29° and 36°. These horizon bands are taken to resemble the opposed hulls of ships, with the two halves of the meridian band as their masts, and they are marked in this way on this astrolabe.
Closeup of Astrolabe, Indo-Persian, 17th century   (Inv. 33796) Astrolabe, Indo-Persian, 17th century   (Inv. 33796)
Astrolabe, Indo-Persian, 17th century (Inv. 33796)
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