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This item has been added to the Database within the Explore Islamic Art Collections project. Information is available in: English, Greek, Arabic.

Name of Object:

Universal astrolabe

Location:

Athens, Greece

Holding Museum:

Benaki Museum

About Benaki Museum, Athens

Date of Object:

Hegira 729 / AD 1328-29

Museum Inventory Number:

13178

Material(s) / Technique(s):

Brass

Dimensions:

Diameter 20 cm

Period / Dynasty:

Mamluk

Provenance:

Syria, probably Aleppo

Description:

The astrolabe was made by Ahmad ibn al-Sarraj for Muhammad al-Tanukhi in the year of the Hijra 729. The border of the disc is inscribed with the names of four owners, two of them are named muwaqqit i.e. astronomers employed for religious purposes. It is the only known specimen of an Islamic universal astrolabe. Ahmad ibn al-Sarraj probably lived in Aleppo in the early 14th century and he is the author of treatises on mathematics and astronomy.

Citation of this web page:

 "Universal astrolabe" in Explore Islamic Art Collections. Museum With No Frontiers, 2024. https://islamicart.museumwnf.org/database_item.php?id=object;EPM;gr;Mus21;44;en

MWNF Working Number: GR 44

RELATED CONTENT

 Artistic Introduction

Islamic Dynasties / Period

Mamluks


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