Astrolabe Catalogue

 

Front of astrolabe without rete or plates. Click to enlarge
Date early 18th century
Maker ‘Abd al-A’imma
Place Iṣfahān
Material Brass
Inventory no. 40833
Acquisition Presented by J. A. Billmeir in 1957

Throne

The throne is of the indo-persian, engraved type . The throne is attached with a integrated base. Both sides of the throne are embossed with inscriptions, but they are very difficult to read.

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). Through rough treatment the shackle has been bent. The tabs that attach it to the throne are different shapes.

Mater

The mater and limb are of one-piece construction. The tab that holds the tympans in place is located at the bottom of the instrument, 180° from the throne. Scales on the limb:
Type Range & Units Numbered Geometry Location
Degree 0 - 360 Degrees of arc Every 5 degrees Circular, concentric outer

The limb is inscribed:
Content Translation Notes Type
[along edge of limb] [ pending ] None

Womb


The womb contains a gazetteer. The womb contains a gazetteer with coordinates for 46 cities:
City
(on instrument)
Translation
(when known)
Longitude Latitude Inhiraf Jihat
مكه Mecca 77°10 21°40 00
مدينه Medina 75°20 25°00 37°10 JAQ
صنعا Ṣana‘a 77°00 14°30 01°15 SHSH
طرابلس Tarablus 45°00 32°00 78°17 SHJ
بيت المقدس Bait al-Maqdis 66°30 31°50 45°56 JAQ
دمشق Dimashq 70°00 33°15 30°31 JAQ
حلب Halab 72°10 35°50 18°29 JAQ
موصل Mosul 77°00 34°30 17°12 GHJ
مراغه Maragheh 82°00 37°20 16°17 GHJ
تبريز Tabriz 82°00 38°00 15°40 GHJ
اردبيل Ardabil 82°30 38°00 17°33 GHJ
سامره Samirah 79°00 34°00 7°56 GHJ
كوفه Kufa 79°30 31°30 12°31 GHJ
بغداد Baghdad 80°00 33°25 12°45 GHJ
واسط Wasit 81°30 32°20 20°14 GHJ
بصره Basr 84°00 30°00 37°19 GHJ
شوشتر Shushtar 84°30 31°30 36°24 GHJ
شيراز Shiraz 88°00 29°00 33°38 GHJ
يزد Yazd 89°00 32°00 48°38 GHJ
همدان Hamadan 83°00 35°10 22°16 GHJ
قزوين Qazvin 85°00 36°00 27°34 GHJ
قم Qom 85°40 34°45 31°14 GHJ
كشان Kashan 86°00 34°00 34°31 GHJ
اصفهان Iṣfahan 86°40 32°24 40°18 GHJ
رى Rayy 86°20 35°10 37°26 GHJ
طالقان Taliqan 85°45 36°10 29°13 GHJ
استراباد Asterabad 89°35 36°50 18°48 GHJ
سمنان Semnan 88°00 36°00 36°17 GHJ
سبزوار Sabzawar 91°30 36°00 44°13 GHJ
نيشابور Nishapur 92°30 36°20 46°25 GHJ
طوس Ṭus 92°30 37°00 44°06
هراة Herat 94°20 24°30 54°00 GHJ
مرو Marw 97°00 37°40 52°30 GHJ
بلخ Balkh 101°00 36°41 60°16 GHJ
بخارا Bukhara 97°30 39°50 49°38 GHJ
سمرقند Samarqand 99°16 39°37 54°14 GHJ
نرماسير Narmasir 94°20 29°00 66°26 GHJ
خبيس Khabis 91°00 31°00 17°28 GHJ
هرموز Hormoz 92°00 25°00 74°00 GHJ
غزنين Ghazna 104°00 33°35 70°37 GHJ
قنداهر Qandahar 104°40 38°00 75°31 GHJ
لهاور Lahore 109°20 31°50 78°36 GHJ
اكرة Agra 104°00 27°18 91°00 GHJ
ملتان Multan 107°35 29°40 80°48 GHJ
كشمير Kashmir 108°00 35°00 63°45 GHJ
تبت Tibbat 110°00 40°00 66°26 GHJ
MHS Home | Contact Us | ©2006 Museum of the History of Science