Dr. Dor2^s Description of an Arabic Celestial Globe. 373 



Persians. On his inquiring the reason of this regulation, and being told 

 that there was an ancient belief prevailing amongst them, that their empire 

 would be overthrown by the Greeks by the means of astronomy, he was more 

 anxious to make himself master of this noble science ; but it was only by 

 continued exertions, and aftermany services rendered totheking, that he could 

 obtain his wishes. He then, by the royal command, assembled teachers about 

 him, and became in a short time so much respected throughout Persia for his 

 knowledge of astronomy, that he was even honoured with the royal favour; 

 and iiaving amassed great wealth and purchased many slaves, he returned to 

 Trebizond, carrying with him many books on astronomy, which he translated 

 into Greek ; and thus performed his praiseworthy task. Besides the books 

 alluded to, he rendered into Greek the astronomical tables of the Persians." 



Theodorus Meliteniota, who flourished about A.D. 1300, and was the com- 

 piler of a treatise on astronomy entitled 'Arpm/iixri Tpiffi^xoi , expressly declares 

 in his preface that he had incorporated into his work astronomical tables 

 compiled in Persia.* For the Arabs, who soon after the time of Mahommed 

 had founded an extensive and firmly established empire in Arabia, were not 

 contented to confine themselves and their new creed within its limits, but 

 carried their victorious arms into Persia, which they conquered, and ruled 

 over with as absolute a sway as their other dependencies ; and notwith- 

 stending the heavy losses which this unfortunate country sustained, and the 

 destruction of its literary treasures, the sciences, under the patronage of mild 

 and enlightened governors and princes, soon raised their heads again ; and 

 Persia and the adjoining countries became famous for the flourishing state 

 of their literature, which did not yield to that of any other nation of that 

 age. The consequence was, that several learned men appeared whose 

 proficiency in astronomy procured them an honourable place among the 

 astronomers of that period. The learned Alcazvini (who died in 1283), 

 to wliom we are indebted for an accurate account of the constellations 

 known to the Arabs, and the names of the stars of which they consist, was 

 a native of Persia. 



We find ample information on this subject in his work entitled Ajaib 

 Almakhlukat (culi^i-*^' c^.U.-^) of which the chapter descriptive of the con- 

 stellations has been published by that accomplished astronomer, Professor 



• ETtx Kai iii> T^ntit (/3<y3Ao») t«! tuv Ilsfo-air -x-^a^ii^iuii xntinat 'Vri<po!pt,^Ui jregie^so-* n-vfiTri^xvxi tJj 



Vol. n. 3 C 



