2009/01/01 by Moya Carey · 1 citation
Arts and Humanities · Physics and Astronomy · #Ancient Egypt and Archaeology #Ancient history #Art #Art history #Astronomy #Celestial sphere #Constellation #Globe #Historical Astronomy and Related Studies #Historical, Religious, and Philosophical Studies #History #Inscribed figure #Observatory #Physics
paper · doi:10.1080/05786967.2009.11864761
published in Iran 47(1), 97-108 (Taylor & Francis)
openalex publication_date 2009/01/01 · openalex created_date 2025/10/10 · openalex updated_date 2025/11/06
Currently held in Dresden, a brass celestial globe with gold and silver inlay is identifiable with the late thirteenth-century Ilkhanid observatory at Marāgha, in north-western Iran. This functional instrument is densely inscribed and illustrated, and is signed by the son of Mu'ayyad al-'Urḍī, one of Maragha's most renowned scientists. The style and accomplishment of the constellation images also places the object within the broader art history of inlaid metalwork decoration and design. Across the globe, certain textual information is highlighted clearly in inlaid metal, while other inscriptions are left “blind”—this system differentiates two programmes of identifying stars and constellations, one classical, the other Arabian.