| Al-Bīrūnī
(البيروني) (b. 4 September 973; d. after 1050): Al-Bīrūnī
was born and grew up in the Khwarazm region, south of the
Aral Sea. He wrote more than 100 treatises on most
technical and scientific subjects, including astronomy,
astrology, medicine, geography magic, mathematics,
meteorology and gems. He also wrote literature,
histories, and books on religion and philosophy.
Al-Bīrūnī wrote a valuable work on construction and use
of the astrolabe as well as a book on shadows that
contains descriptions of numerous sun dials. His
The Book of Instruction in the Elements of the Art
of Astrology was an important text and compendium
on astrological practices. See E.S. Kennedy’s entry in
the Dictionary of Scientific Biography, ed.
Charles Coulston Gillispie, vol. 2 (New York: Charles
Scribner’s Sons, 1970), 147-58. |