Risala fi [Tawziḥ Ashkal] al-Usṭurlab al-Kuriy: A Survey of an Anonymous Treatise on Spherical Astrolabe

Subject Areas : The Journal of Islamic History and Civilisation

سید جمال Mousavi ¹ ( ندارد )
سید محمّد Mouzafari ² ( ندارد )

Received: 2009-12-16 Accepted : 2010-02-14 Published : 2010-02-20

Keywords: Astrolabe, spherical astrolabe, astronomical instruments, history of astronomy in Islami,

Abstract :

This article is to survey an anonymous treatise entitled fi [TawziḥAshkal] al-Usṭurlab al-Kuriy. The author, according to himself, wasan astrolabe maker; therefore, his description of the spherical astrolabeis probably based on a sample made by him. On the basis of thecomparison of this astrolabe with two other extant sphericalastrolabes, and according to some evidences, authors of this articleconcluded that this treatise is written in late sixth and early seventhcentury. There are at least three reasons for this claim. Furthermore,this article examines some interesting points about the etymology ofastrolabe, its usage, etc.