Astrolabe Catalogue

 

Front of astrolabe without rete or plates. Click to enlarge
Date 1481/2
Maker Muḥammad Ṣaffār
Place Persia
Material Brass
Inventory no. 39063
Acquisition Presented by Lewis Evans in 1924

Throne

The throne is of the indo-persian type . The throne is attached with a integrated base. The throne is undecorated except for a vertical line on the front and the back. The maker (?) began to inscribe his name on the back of the throne, but did not complete it.. Markings:
Content Translation Notes Type
محمد ؟؟ شم Muḥammad ?? Sham Maker's signature


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). Inverted tear-drop shaped tabs..

Mater

The mater and limb are of one-piece construction. . Scales on the limb:
Type Range & Units Numbered Geometry Location
Degree 0 - 360 Degrees of arc Every 5 degrees Circular, concentric None

Womb


Contains a gazeteer. There is a pin in the lower section of the womb that passes through a hole in the tympans to keep them from rotating.. The womb contains a gazetteer with coordinates for 31 cities:
City
(on instrument)
Translation
(when known)
Longitude Latitude Inhiraf Jihat
هراة Herat 34°30
مرو Marw 37°
طوس Ṭus 36°
نيشابور Nishapur 36°21
دمغان Damghan 36°20
رى Rayy 34°
بصره Basr 30°
بغداد Baghdad 33°25
همدان Hamadan 35°
قزوين Qazvin 36°
اوه ???? 34°
ساوه Sawah 35°40
قم Qom 34°45
كاشان Kashan 34°
اصفهان Iṣfahan 32°25
يزد Yazd 31°
شيراز Shiraz 29°30
كرمان Kerman 30°00
هرموز Hormoz 25°
مصر Misr 32°
بخارا Bukhara 39°
سمرقند Samarqand 40°
استراباد Asterabad 36°50
اردبيل Ardabil 38°
مراغه Maragheh 37°
تبريز Tabriz 38°
امل Amol 36°40
قاين Qayen 33°40
تون Tun 34°
طبس صينا Tabas Sina 33°
بلخ Balkh 36°
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