Early 10th-century astrolabe rete
Record status
Individual type · partial
Period
early 10th century
This object is a standalone astrolabe rete, the rotating star map component of an astrolabe, dating from the early 10th century and attributed to Syria. It survives without the remainder of the original instrument.
The rete is of the indicator-line simple type and features a single tab for rotation. It includes seventeen star pointers, all designed in a dagger shape. The zodiacal signs and star names are inscribed in an early Kufic script. The piece was presented to the History of Science Museum, Oxford, by J. A. Billmeir in 1957. It shares design similarities with another rete in the collection, inventory number 47632.
Evidence at a glance
- Linked sources
- 1
- Photograph views
- 1
- Catalogue references
- 0
Counts describe this entry’s documentation, not authenticity, rarity or completeness. Photographs may show one specimen; check each caption and licence.
Technical characteristics
- Date
- early 10th century
- Type
- Astrolabe rete
- Rete type
- Indicator-line (simple)
- Star count
- 17
- Acquisition
- Presented by J. A. Billmeir in 1957
- Place recorded
- Syria (?)
- Place of origin
- Syria (?)
Design
- Visible features
- • Seventeen distinct dagger-shaped star pointers • Engraved Kufic script for zodiacal signs and star names • Secondary Armenian inscriptions added above Arabic text • Single rotation tab located on the outer ring
- Construction and Design
- The rete is categorized as an indicator-line or simple type, characterized by its functionality as a rotating star map. It is constructed with a single tab used for manual rotation when mounted on an astrolabe plate. The primary design features seventeen individual star pointers, all rendered in a distinct dagger shape. These pointers identify specific celestial bodies, including stars such as Aldebaran, Sirius, and Vega, which are positioned according to their mediation and declination values.
- Provenance and Acquisition
- The rete entered the collection of the History of Science Museum in Oxford in 1957, having been presented by J. A. Billmeir. Records indicate that Billmeir had acquired the object during the two-year period between 1955 and 1957. The object is held under the accession number 1957-84/156. It is currently catalogued independently as it lacks the remainder of the original astrolabe instrument.
- Inscriptions and Linguistic Alteration
- The original inscriptions on the rete, including the names of the twelve zodiacal signs and the seventeen stars, are executed in an early Kufic script. This script style is associated with the early Islamic world of the period. At a later stage, an owner translated the Arabic labels into Armenian. These secondary inscriptions are written above the original Arabic words, documenting a linguistic transition that occurred during the instrument's use.
Identification
- Accession
- 1957-84/156
- Inventory number
- 48470
- Source note
- Facts transcribed from the linked source listing or collection record. Attribution and specifications are source-reported and have not been independently authenticated.
Catalogue references
No catalogue numbers recorded. Numbers are only published once transcribed from a verified edition of a standard catalogue — they are never inferred.
Research required
- Research required: Origin tentatively attributed to Syria
- Research required: Current state is a detached component without the main astrolabe body