{"id":623105,"date":"2026-08-06T06:44:15","date_gmt":"2026-08-06T06:44:15","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ie\/623105\/"},"modified":"2026-08-06T06:44:15","modified_gmt":"2026-08-06T06:44:15","slug":"this-medieval-astrolabe-turns-1000-years-old","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ie\/623105\/","title":{"rendered":"This Medieval Astrolabe Turns 1,000 Years Old"},"content":{"rendered":"

A rare astronomical instrument made in medieval Spain has reached an extraordinary milestone. Now held by National Museums Scotland, the astrolabe offers a glimpse into the scientific knowledge of the Islamic world during the eleventh century.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Made from brass in C\u00f3rdoba by Muhammad ibn al-Saff\u00e2r, the instrument is dated to 417 AH in the Islamic calendar, corresponding to 1026\u201327. It is among the oldest surviving European astrolabes to bear both the name of its maker and a date.<\/p>\n

Astrolabes are two-dimensional models representing the apparent movement of celestial bodies. By observing the position of the Sun and stars, their users could calculate the time, determine their location and make astronomical or astrological predictions.<\/p>\n

The instruments became important tools for scholars, travellers and navigators, bringing together detailed astronomical knowledge and skilled metalworking. The survival of a signed and dated example provides historians with valuable evidence about scientific instrument-making in medieval C\u00f3rdoba, which was one of the leading centres of scholarship in Islamic Spain.<\/p>\n

\u201cAs this incredible object turns 1,000 years old, we reflect on how a single object can connect science, history and culture,\u201d said Dr Rebekah Higgitt, Principal Curator of Science at National Museums Scotland. \u201cIt reveals to us how early scholars observed the stars and helps us understand how past learning has helped shape the modern world. We are privileged to share this story with our visitors as we mark this remarkable milestone.\u201d<\/p>\n

From C\u00f3rdoba to Edinburgh
\n\"\"<\/a>Photo courtesy National Museums Scotland<\/p>\n

How the astrolabe travelled from medieval Spain to Scotland remains unclear. Its modern history can be traced to James H. Farr, an Edinburgh collector who donated it to the museum in 1959. Farr operated Wardie Garage on Ferry Road and served as Secretary of the Edinburgh Society of Model Engineers. His interests ranged from military memorabilia to locomotives and automobiles.<\/p>\n

In a 1960 newspaper interview, Farr explained that he had purchased the astrolabe from a second-hand shop in Edinburgh\u2019s Lawnmarket. Despite the relatively ordinary circumstances of its rediscovery, it would prove to be one of the rarest scientific instruments in the museum\u2019s collection.<\/p>\n

The astrolabe recently appeared in the British Museum\u2019s Silk Roads exhibition. It has since returned to Edinburgh and is now on permanent display in the National Museum of Scotland\u2019<\/strong><\/a>s Earth in Space gallery, located on Level 1 of the museum\u2019s Natural World galleries.<\/p>\n

\n<\/blockquote>\n

You can read more about this astrolabe in the article: A 1000-year-old star catcher<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n

Top Image: Dr Rebekah Higgitt of National Museums Scotland examines an 11th century astronomical instrument known as an astrolabe on the 1000th anniversary of its manufacture. Photo courtesy National Museums Scotland<\/p>\n

Subscribe to Medievalverse<\/p>\n

\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t