Astrolabe Catalogue

 

Front of astrolabe without rete or plates. Click to enlarge
Date 1068 (A.H. 460)
Maker Ibrahīm ibn Sa'īd as-Sahlī
Place Toledo
Material Brass
Inventory no. 55331
Acquisition Presented by Lewis Evans in 1924

Throne

The throne is of the simple type . The throne is attached with a integrated base. This broad, undecorated throne has nine lobes..

Shackle

Shackle of the omega type (i.e. Ω-shaped shackle). .

Mater

The mater and limb are of one-piece construction. This instrument is unusual in that the limb is a thin plate of metal, cut to fit exactly on the mater ring and the throne.. Scales on the limb:
Type Range & Units Numbered Geometry Location
Degree 0 - 360 Degrees of arc Every 5 degrees Circular, concentric None

Womb


The womb is inscribed:
Content Translation Notes Type
القزم و مدين و كابل و طلوس و جلاص العرض كح ك ساعاته يج ن Qolzum and Madyan and Kabul and Tawiyus and ???, the latitude 28° 20'; hours 13h 50m Latitude
المشرق East Direction
المغرب West Direction

Almucantars

Divisions Labelled Style
Divided every 5° from 0° to 90° Labelled every 5° with   (Abdjad, maghrib) numerals Plain line.

Azimuths

Divisions Labelled Style
Divided every 9°  Labelled every 9° with   (Abdjad, maghrib) numerals Plain line.

Circles

Type Labelled Style Notes
Equator Plain line.
Tropic of Capricorn Plain line.
Tropic of Capricorn Plain line.

Lines

Type Labelled Description
Meridian line خط الزوال (Midday line) (Arabic in Kufic script)
Horizon rectus
Unequal hours Numbered (Numbers in Numbers, engraved script) (Abdjad, maghrib), Plain line style.
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