Gobelin tapestry, "Astronomie"

Astronomie is one of Röhsska Museum’s finest textiles, showing a group of men in Mediaeval Western dress making astronomical observations. The only person who can be definitely identified in the picture is the female personification of astronomy to the right. There are a variety of opinions about who the astronomer closest to Astrologia could be.

One interpretation, which is supported by the inscription on the clothing, is that it shows the Arab astronomer Ibn Yunus or Albategnius.

Ibn Yunus (858–929) wrote books and constructed instruments for observing heavenly bodies, but also made significant improvements to the sextant and compass. His most famous book, of which the Latin title is “De Scienta Stellarum – De Numeris Stellarum et motibus” was about astronomy and trigonometry. It was very important in Europe until the Renaissance and translated to a range of languages.