Astrolabe

The astrolabe, which showed how the sky looked at a particular place and time, was used to find the time during day or night, to indicate times of sunrise and sunset, and to locate Mecca, all essential for the performance of daily prayers. It also had a function in astrology, which was well established in Islamic culture. The astrolabe resembles a celestial globe that has been flattened into two dimensions. The sky was illustrated on its face, and moveable components consisting of engraved metal disks were adjusted to a specific date and time. This astrolabe is inscribed with references to many cities, from Baghdad, Basra, Ahwaz, Shushtar, and Rayy to Herat, Kabul, and Qandahar. It is signed "the work of 'Abd al-Aymina(?)," and is dated 1130 A.H. (1717-18).