“Incredibly Rare” – Ancient Astrolabe Discovery Reveals Islamic – Jewish Scientific Exchange

The discovery of an Islamic astrolabe from the eleventh century, inscribed in both Arabic and Hebrew, ranks it among the oldest examples ever discovered and one of only a handful known in the world. The astronomical instrument was adapted, translated, and corrected for centuries by Muslim, Jewish, and Christian users in Spain, North Africa, and Italy.

Dr. Federica Gigante, from Cambridge University’s History Faculty, made the discoveries in a museum in Verona, Italy, and published them in the journal Nuncius.

Dr. Gigante first came across a newly-uploaded image of the astrolabe by chance on the website of the Fondazione Museo Miniscalchi-Erizzo. Intrigued, she asked them about it.