Astrolabe Catalogue

 

Front of astrolabe without rete or plates. Click to enlarge
Date early 18th century (?)
Maker Faḍl ‘Alī
Place Persia
Material Brass
Inventory no. 38235
Acquisition Presented by Lewis Evans in 1924

Throne

The throne is of the indo-persian, broad type . The throne is attached with a integrated base. This broad throne is embossed with inscriptions on the front and back. Markings:
Content Translation Notes Type
غرض نقشيست كه تا باز ماند كه هستي را نمى بينم بقائي The aim of the engraving is that it should remain after me, for I see not the continuity of earthly existence. Miscellaneous
عمل كمترين فضل علي The work of the most humble Faẓl-e ʿAlī. 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). .

Mater

The mater and limb are of one-piece construction. There is a notch in the limb at the bottom of the instrument that accepts the tab from the tympans. The womb seems to have been silvered. Scales on the limb:
Type Range & Units Numbered Geometry Location
Degree 0 - 360 Degrees Every 5 degrees Circular, concentric None

Womb


The womb shows signs of having been silvered. There is an additional coordinate in this gazetteer that seems to be the number of hours of daylight. The womb contains a gazetteer with coordinates for 56 cities:
City
(on instrument)
Translation
(when known)
Longitude Latitude Inhiraf Jihat
مكه معظمه Mecca 77°10 21°40 00
مدينه مشرفه Medina 75°20 24°50 12°00 SHJ
حله Hilla 79°00 32°00 12°00 GHJ
كوفه Kufa 79°30 31°30 12°00 GHJ
بصره Basr 84°00 30°11 30°00 GHJ
بغداد Baghdad 80°00 33°00 13°00 GHJ
اصفهان Iṣfahan 86°40 32°25 40°23 GHJ
شيراز Shiraz 88°00 29°30 11°23 GHJ
طوس Ṭus 92°30 36°00 45°40 GHJ
نيشابور Nishapur 92°30 36°00 45°03 GHJ
يزد Yazd 89°00 32°00 47°17 GHJ
خوارزم Khwarizm 94°30 42°17 40°00 GHJ
سمرقند Samarqand 99°16 39°37 11°00 GHJ
خجند Khujand 105°35 41°56 50°00 GHJ
تبريز Tabriz 82°00 38°00 14°29 GHJ
اردبيل Ardabil 82°30 38°00 14°29 GHJ
مراغه Maragheh 82°00 37°20 15°15 GHJ
همدان Hamadan 83°00 34°10 24°30 GHJ
قزوين Qazvin 85°00 36°00 27°34 GHJ
كاشان Kashan 86°40 34°00 36°08 GHJ
قم Qom 85°40 34°45 32°13 GHJ
رى Rayy 86°20 35°00 31°13 GHJ
آمل Amol 88°20 36°20 33°21 GHJ
استراباد Asterabad 89°35 36°50 36°03 GHJ
طون Tun 92°30 34°30 32°07 GHJ
طبس Tabas 94°20 33°15 14°00 GHJ
هراة Herat 94°20 34°30 11°30 GHJ
قنداهر Qandahar 107°40 23°00 42°00 GHJ
مكه معظمه Mecca 77°10 21°40 13 17 00
مدينه مشرفه Medina 75°20 24°50 13 30 SHJ
حله Hilla 79°00 32°00 14 06 GHJ
كوفه Kufa 79°30 31°30 14 02 GHJ
بصره Basr 84°00 30°11 13 17 GHJ
بغداد Baghdad 80°00 33°00 14 12 GHJ
اصفهان Iṣfahan 86°40 32°25 14 06 GHJ
شيراز Shiraz 88°00 29°30 13 12 GHJ
طوس Ṭus 92°30 36°00 14 38 GHJ
نيشابور Nishapur 92°30 36°00 14 38 GHJ
يزد Yazd 89°00 32°00 14 06 GHJ
خوارزم Khwarizm 94°30 42°17 15 05 GHJ
سمرقند Samarqand 99°16 39°37 14 15 GHJ
خجند Khujand 105°35 41°56 14 18 GHJ
تبريز Tabriz 82°00 38°00 14 40 GHJ
اردبيل Ardabil 82°30 38°00 14 40 GHJ
مراغه Maragheh 82°00 37°20 14 34 GHJ
همدان Hamadan 83°00 34°10 14 17 GHJ
قزوين Qazvin 85°00 36°00 14 38 GHJ
كاشان Kashan 86°40 34°00 14 17 GHJ
قم Qom 85°40 34°45 14 19 GHJ
رى Rayy 86°20 35°00 14 22 GHJ
آمل Amol 88°20 36°20 14 30 GHJ
استراباد Asterabad 89°35 36°50 14 33 GHJ
طون Tun 92°30 34°30 14 15 GHJ
طبس Tabas 94°20 33°15 14 12 GHJ
هراة Herat 94°20 34°30 15 17 GHJ
قنداهر Qandahar 107°40 23°00 14 12 GHJ
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