- Brief Description
- The design of this astrolabe suggests that it was made in North Africa, probably in the 1500s or 1600s CE. It bears resemblances to another astrolabe in the Museum's collection, the astrolabes made by Muhammad bin Ahmad al-Battuti (inv. no 51459). This astrolabe belonged to John Selden (1584–1654), a scholar, jurist and antiquary with an interest in the Islamic world, and came to the Bodleian Library with his library in 1659.
- Subject
- Astrolabes
- Item type
- Object
- Provenance
- Lent by the Bodleian Library. Belonged to John Selden (1584-1654), jurist and antiquary.
- Physical material
- Brass
- Object type
- Astrolabe
- Dimensions
- Diameter: 198mm Height: 307mm Depth: 50mm Weight: 2.5kg
- Inventory No
- 37527
- Accession Number
- 1952-76
Description
The empty round socket on the throne suggests it once held a compass.
Parts
It comprises: a mater, a rete for 33 stars, 8 plates, an alidade, a horse and pin.
Throne
The throne is of the compass bearing type and it is attached with a integrated base. Although now missing, the hole in the throne probably held or was intended to hold a compass. Other than this, the throne is undecorated.
Ring
The ring is of the simple, round cross-section type. In addition to the ring, there is a teardrop-shaped guide probably for a cord or other means of suspension.
Shackle
Shackle of the eye-bolt type (i.e. any shackle that attactes to the ring via an eye-bolt type feature). The eye-bolt pivots in a round bracket that attaches to the throne.
Mater
The mater and limb are of two pieces, soldered and riveted construction. The rim is marked with a degree scale 0-360° divided every 5 degrees, subdivided every degree, and labelled in Abjad numerals every 5 degrees.
Womb
The womb is blank.
Back
The back containstwo altitude scales on the upper half of the rim 0-90° (marked every 5 degrees); a zodiacal calendar divided in 30 degrees marked every 5 degrees on top of each sign; Julian calendar marked every 5 days with the last day of each month; an unequal hour diagram in the upper-left quadrant; a sign graph in the upper-right quadrant; a shadow square in the bottom half, both the the left and right sides are divided into 12 fingers vertical and 12 fingers horizontal, marked every 3.
Rete
is of the Maghrebi type with hook star pointers some with inverted-heart bases and with simple loops. There are 4 silver knobs for rotation. It features 32 stars.
Zodiac label
The zodiac on the rete is labelled: الحمل , الثور , الجوزا , السرطان , الاسد , السنبله , الميزان , العقرب , القوس , الجدي , الدلو , الحوت.
Pin and horse
The rete is attached using a pin and horse. The horse is shaped as an actual horse.
Alidade
Double-ended, original.
Plates
There are 8 plates. One plate is inscribed on one side, 'Latitude of Marrakesh, 31. 30'; the other side is engraved for latitude 33°, but has no indication of the latitude or place for which it was intended. The remainder of the plates bear no inscriptions whatever. One of them is engraved on one side with an az-zarqellu projection, and on the other side with a tablet of horizons of the type found in maghribî astrolabes. The other plates are ordinary plates for latitudes 0°, 15°, 22°50', 25°, 28°, 30°, 32°, 34°, 37°, 40°, 45°, and 48°.
