Antique Persian Bedouin Islamic Astrolabe Sundial Compass Circa Early 1700s - $2,279 - (Upper Makefield Twp, PA)

Offered for sale is this outstanding antique original brass Persian Islamic Bedouin Astrolabe, Compass Sundial being 5 5/8" in diameter, signed by the maker, with Arabic and Zodiac engraving all over the front and back of this instrument with insert compass and sundial. We believe the circa to be early 17th centaury. The astrolabe is guaranteed to be an authentic antique. Historically, each Bedouin Tribe Master had one of these astrolabes to help him navigate either on land (at night) or in water. The tribe master looked up at the stars for the big dipper. After finding the big dipper, he followed the handle which pointed to the north star. Having found the north star, he then knew which way was north. He always used the instrument at night because it was too hot during the day, and the big dipper and the north star was not visible during daylight hours. The Persian Astrolabe is a historical astronomical instrument used by classical astronomers and astrologers. Brass astrolabes were developed in much of Persia (Iran), chiefly as an aid to navigation and as a way of finding the qibla, the direction of Mecca. In the Islamic world, astrolabes were used to find the times of sunrise and the rising of fixed stars, to help schedule morning prayers. It was the chief navigational instrument until the invention of the compass and sextant. Its many uses included locating and predicting the positions of the sun, moon, planets and stars; determining local time given the local longitude and vice-versa; surveying, and triangulation. Astrologers of European nations used astrolabes to construct horoscopes. In the Islamic world, they are and were used primarily for astronomical studies, though astrology was often involved there as well. The astrolabe was introduced to the Islamic world the mid-eighth century. The astrolabe was fully developed during the early centuries of Islam. Arab treatises on the astrolabe were published in the ninth century and indicate a long familiarity wit…

Posted in Upper Makefield Twp, PA, Antiques
From ebay.com - 1 month ago