392 SEC. 11. ASTRONOMY. 



1755. Persian Astrolabe. 



The Royal United Service Institution. 



Presented to the United Service Institution, May 1842, by Major-General 

 Sir John May, K.C.B., K.C.H. 



1756. Ptolemy's Planisphere or Astrolabe, made in 1601, 

 by Michael Coignet, at Antwerp. (See the works of Gemma 

 Frisius, Metius, Lansberghen, &c.) 



H. G. Van de Sandc Bakhuyzen, Director of the Observa- 

 tory, Leydcn. 



1757. Ptolemy's Planisphere or Astrolabe, made in the 

 beginning of the 16th century. (See the works of Greniina Frisius, 

 Metius, Lansberghen, &c.) 



H. G. Van de Sande Bakhuyzen, Director of the Observa- 

 tory, Leyden. 



1757a. Large Bronze Astrolabe, which belonged to King 

 Philip II., of Spain. Archceological Museum, Madrid. 



Near the handle are the following inscriptions, giving the date and name 

 of the maker : 



Philippo Rege. Gualterus Arsenius Frisi Nepos Loaanii fecit an 1555. 

 The diameter of this instrument is 0'59 m . 



1757b. Bronze Astrolabe, made in the 16th century. 

 Diameter, 0*32 m . Archceological Museum , Madrid. 



1757c. Arabian Astrolabe. Made at Toledo, A.D. 1067. 

 Diameter, 24 m . Archceological Museum, Madrid. 



Astrolabe made at Toledo as stated in the Arabic inscription engraved at 

 the back : " In the month of Shawan. One of the work* superintended by 

 " Ibrahim Ibn Said, the Muazini, Assohli, at Toledo. In the 459th year of 

 " the Hegira." 



This year began on the 21st of November of 1066, and ended on the 10th 

 of the same month of 1067. The famous astronomer Ararquiel, called by 

 Guillermo Anglicus, Pater Isaac, lived at Toledo at this period, and this 

 instrument may have been made under his directions. It contains five plates 

 giving the latitudes. The translations of the inscriptions will be found in the 

 interesting study on astrolabes, published by Dr. Eduardo Saavedra in the 

 'Museo Espaiiol de Antiguedades," V. VI., pp. 402-414. It is worthy of 

 notice that European numbers are to be met with on several of the plates, 

 which would make it appear probable that the instrument had beeu used by 

 some Christian astronomer not knowing Arabic. The number of towns men- 

 tioned, ranging from Persia to the coast of Movono, and several Spanish 

 towns, is much more extensive than on similar instruments of the kind. 



1757d. Bronze Arabian Astrolabe. Diameter, 0- 21 1 ". 



Archceological Museum, Madrid. 



Astrolabe without name of maker, date, or locality ; but it may be surmised 

 from the Arabic inscriptions on it that this instrument was made at Morocco, 

 in 1774. 



