Astrolabe, by Ibrahim ibn Sa'id al-Sahli, Toledo, 1068

Object is on display.

Inventory Number:

55331

Object Type:

Object

Persons:

Ibrahim ibn Sa'id al-Sahli (Maker)

Date Created:

Dated Shawwal A.H. 460 (August 1068 CE)

Place Created:

Toledo Spain Europe

Subject Classification(s):

Astrolabes

Accession Number:

1924-0/part

Brief Description:

This is the earliest European astrolabe in the Museum's collection. It was made in 1068 in Muslim Spain, in the city of Toledo, just south of Madrid. During this time Toledo had detached from the Umayyad Caliphate of Cordoba, which ruled the region, and remained an independent Muslim/Berber polity called Taifa of Toledo, until it was conquered by Christian forces in 1085. Toledo was a great cultural centre for Muslims, Christians, and Jews alike and a site for collaboration and exchange of ideas. Such fruitful exchanges are also reflected in the use of both Arabic and Latin characters in the calendar featuring on the back of this instrument.

Primary Inscriptions:

صنعه ٳبراهيم بن سعيد السهلي بمدينة طليطلة في شوال سنة تص الهجري "The work of Ibrahim b. Sa'id al-Sahli, in the city of Toledo in Shawwal in A.H. 460". Engraved on the back.

Provenance:

Presented by Lewis Evans. Evans purchased it from Cantoni of Milan (April 1899).

Collection Group:

Lewis Evans Collection

Material(s):

Brass

Dimensions: