Terrestrial and Celestial Globes Vol I

structed b

bes and astronomical instruments.-The record of the 'Fihrist.'-Ibrahim.-Cais

tronomy and geography, in so far as their activities had to do with the construction of globes.49 The information which we have, concerning their astronomical studies in p

ature to Arabic terrestrial globes which can be cited. An occasional reference, however, has been made by modern writers to a globe said to have been constructed for King Roger of Sicily. Without citing his authority, Freyheer F. v. Zach states that "the oldest terrestrial globe which is known was made for King Roger II of Sicily in the twelfth century, and is especially remarkable for the value of the metal wh

abia, long before the time of Islam, were in the habit of observing the stars, many of which, as Dorn has noted,

s were written upon his description of the names and figures of the several constellations. The only alteration they allowed themselves to make in the names of the stars was to translate them into their own language, or to substitute for those they could not understand other names that conveyed an idea to their minds, applicable to the constellation before th

at the construction of astronomical instruments was brought to a high degree of perfection by these peoples in the thirteenth century.59 The names of many of the Arabic astronomers who were particularly expert as globe makers are recorded, and there were many who wrote on the subject of celestial spheres, armillary spheres, and astrolabes, even before the tenth century.60 The author of the 'Fihrist,' Ibn Ab? Ja'k?b an-Nad?m, tells us that Kurra ben Kam?ta al-Harran? constructed a globe which he

of Arabic culture, appears to date from the second half of the eleventh century. According to an inscription on the globe, we learn that it was made at Valencia by Ibrahim Ibn Said-as-Sahli, in the year 473 of the Hegira, a date equivalent to 1080 A. D. This date Professor Meucci finds confirmed by a careful study of the position of the stars represented on the globe. He notes, for example, that the star Regulus had been placed at a distance of 16 degrees 40 minutes from the sign of Leo. Ptolemy, in the year 1

tiquities and curiosities of Cardinal Borgia, in Velletri, but may now be found in the Museo Nazionale of Naples. It is composed of two brass hemispheres, having both horizon and meridian circles, the whole resting upon four supporting feet. A Cufic inscription te

ent the several constellations suggest Persian workmanship. In the vicinity of the south pole is an inscription in Cufic characters, telling us that it was "Made by the most humble in the supreme god, Mohammed ben Helal, the astronomer of Monsul, in the year of the Hegira 674." This year answers to the year 1275 of

sphere of Globe by Moh

circle, on which is engraved at the east the word "rising," and at the west the word "setting." It is not supplied with a movable meridian circle, but within the horizon circle, from north to south, and from east to west, there are two brass half circles, of the same diameter as the horizon circle and so adjusted as to form one piece with it. Through such an arrangement it is made possible to turn the globe in any desired direction, one half of it being at all times above the horizo

Mohammed ben Muwaj

ines of the several constellations, with their names, some of these being inlaid with silver, some with gold. The equator and the ecliptic are represented on the surface of the sphere, each by two engraved parallel lines, and are graduated, the graduation in each instance being represented by four short and one long line, alternating thus by fives throughout the entire three hundred

Jomard, in Egypt, more than sixty years ago. It has a diameter of about 19 cm., is furnished with a horizon circle, which is upheld by four semicircular arms, these, in turn, resting upon a base compos

5). It has a diameter of something less than 15 cm., and was constructed by Diemat Eddin Mohamme

of Diemat Eddin

e indicated by letters; on the third circle appear the twelve signs of the zodiac and the four principal directions, east, west, north, south; the fourth circle is divided into thirty-six parts, formed by the extension of the lines which divide the first, or horizon circle, into thirty-six parts. On the last circle the names of one hundred and four cities and countries are given. Not far from the north pole is an inscription which gives us the name of the maker and the date of construction. Therein we read that it was completed in the year 1113 of the flight of the Prophet, or in the year 1701 of Christian reckoning, by Ridhwan, for Maulana Hassa

nymous Arabic

O

Vol. I, pp. 372, 516, containing references to globes, celestial and terre

rlin, 1877. See pp. 145-160, wherein reference is made to their lack of interes

-1872. 2 vols. The greater part of this Arabic work was written about the year 987 A. D. Edrisi states it as "the opinion of philosophers, of illustrious savants, and of skilled observers in the knowledge

ihrist. (In: Zeitschrift für Mathematik und Physik. Leipzig, 1892.) This work contains many references to distinguish

hat a terrestrial globe by Edrisi never existed; Hadradauer, C. v. Die Feldzeugmeister Ritter von Hauslabische Kartensammlung. (In: Mitteilungen der K. K. Geographische Gesellschaft zu Wien. Wie

globe. (In: Transactions of the Royal Asiatic

rn, o

rn, o

of Castile, is referred to as having been much interested in astronomy, in which science he acquir

servatoire de Méragah. Paris, 1810. It is well known that under the direction of Nasr-Eddin, who wa

rn, o

st, also a list

rn, o

rn, o

nte nel Gabinetto degli strumenti antichi di Astronomia, Ma

is cufico-arabicus Veliterani

rn, o

athematischen Salon zu Dresden aufbewahrt wird. (In: Bodes Astronomisches Jahrbuch für das Jahr 1808. Berli

ur servir à l'histoire comparée des sciences mathématiques chez les grecs et les orientaux. Paris, 1845. Vol. I, pp. 334 ff.

ourteously given

e astronomische Instrumente mit arabischen Inschriften. (In: Mémoires de l'Académie Impér