Museum of Islamic Art - photos
Photos and information of a selection of exhibits shown at the Museum of Islamic Art, located in the Pergamon Museum on the Berlin Museum Island.
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Astrolabe
2nd half of the 17th century, Safavids, Iran
Copper alloy, cast, engraved/chased
height 36 cm, width 26,3 cm
Astrolabes, Greek "star takers", are astronomical measuring instruments whose invention is said to date back to Hipparchus of Nicaea in the 2nd century BC. They can be used to make numerous astronomical, geographical and astrological calculations and to solve mechanical tasks of spherical astronomy. Especially important for Muslim users was the determination of the Qibla, the direction of prayer to Mecca.
To be able to use the device, it had to be suspended and aligned; depending on the task at hand, different insertion disks were used. The specimen lists the coordinates of 86 places between Morocco and China, the zodiac and the names of 49 fixed stars. Among other things, the height of the sun during the day and the height above the horizon at night can be measured.
The suspension of the asterolabium is richly decorated with symmetrical vine decoration. The "Mater", the main piece of an astrolabe, bears the signature of the Master Muhammad Zaman al-Munadschim al-Asturlabi on the back. The ruler (Alhidade) and the connecting screw are missing.
(Text: SMB-digital, online collections database. Transl.: UiU)
© Photos: Haupt & Binder
Photos and information of a selection of exhibits shown at the Museum of Islamic Art, located in the Pergamon Museum on the Berlin Museum Island.