AL-KASHI'S TREATISE ON ASTRONOMICAL OBSERVATIONAL INSTRUMENTS! E. 8, KENNEDY, I, Inrropucrion /a18 paper is a minor contribution to I the slowly accumulating corpus of materials on medieval observatory equipment. It presents the Persian text, translation, and commentary to a short treatise written by the fifteenth-century Tranian mathematician and astronomer JamshId Ghiyath al-Din al-KashI (or al-Kashnt), who later played a leading role (ef. [9])® at the Samarqand observa- tory of Ulugh Beg. Since he evidently had some knowledge of the Il-Khanid observa- tory built at Mardgha in the thirteenth century, his writing is a connecting link between these two great centers of medi- eval astronomical activity, centers whose influence reached at least as far as Istanbul to the west, and China and India to the cast (cf. (16), (5), (23), and (8). Additional interest attaches to this manuscript as being the writing of a man whose books have attracted a good deal of attention in recent years. KashI’s best work was in the field of numerical methods; his 7-determination, a masterpiece of com- putational technique, has been published 1Thie study was sponsored by Tho Ni Science Foundation, Washington, D.C. 2 Numbers in square brackets refer to the biblio- graphy at the end of the paper. in (12] and [15] with German and Russian translations respectively. The major part of [15] is given over to Kashi’s arithmetic, ‘@ book in which he claims to have invented decimal fractions, and in fact he applies these with great address a century and a half before their appearance in Europe. An analog computer invented by Kashi, ‘and with which he solves many astro- nomical problems, is described in [10]. Our text, reproduced in facsimile from the unique copy in the library of the University of Leiden, consists of folios 12r, 12v, and 13r of Cod. Or, 945 (Warner). Thanks are due to the authorities of the Leiden library for permission to publish this fragment, as well as for their unfail- ingly prompt and efficient attention to requests for films of manuscript material, Before attempting a general survey and description of Islamic observatory equip- ment as a whole, it would seem well to publish in detail at least two additional manuscripts. One of these is the British Museum Persian Add. 7702. This was written by one ‘Abd al-Mun‘im ‘Amili about the Maragha and Samargand instru- ments and has twenty-one detailed draw- ings. The other is the work of ‘Abd al-Rahman al-Khazini outlined in [17]. IL. TRanstarion fer. (1) In the name of God, the Merciful, the Forgiving. Praise unto the Lord of the worlds, and prayers and peace upon His goodly creation, Muhammad, and his descendants, the pure (ones). (2) However, this is a treatise on the explanation of some observational instruments, brought out by command of the Emperor of Islim, the Issuer of Commands (to the) 98,Cena Wah eeplae berbAerud, fot rite fia, ey nat ; Bide Mra ai iti peut eal Siena et ve ht pe uJ et ho occ dois ons ecules paras Li tuiete Gop PenLpaatyiparab tie Fesbaglopcibdotrctanle Lunt ee pplineah LitPorbuslatlee ant aan hy annals ipoyisatnsiootib, barge tins Brig etsitarLaaieienc, fibeliye nd fae olberpsAihmerBloprtrless Lei dn Sony gesagt genus ihy gee i, Leip dy Ap laeesy Biacaenind ont pon ee ee ian trees Su Liprais sCipeeactie ay ee, by bse pibtavtetie BESS ANS sate abana ai ames Bi orghy paling She Mary psbege eg Angelep asst nbn Sacalsbot “Aan es Map ceri tinh ser Gilet rye Leb garistor ok Culpa. Flo. 1—Leiden Cod. Or. 945 (Warner) £.12¢ 15100 JourNAL oF Near EasTERN STuDIES (3) Seven Climes, the Shadow of God on the Two Harths, the Champion on Water and Land, the Sultan of Sultans in the Universe, the Serene (one) and Place of Refuge of the Children of Adam, (4) the Prop of Muslim Affairs, and Guardian of the Commander of the Faithful, (the one) having trust in God, the greatest Sultén, Iskandar, may God, be He exalted, perpetuate his reign and his caliphate (5) and his sultanate and prolong upon the worlds his bounty and his gifts. (Thus,) in the course of writing, there comes The Triquetum (lit, that having two branches). Let there be three rulers, one (6) perpendicular to the horizon plane, and let the second be mounted on the head of the vertical ruler with a pin, like a compass. The third (one) is to be mounted with a pin near the (7) base of the vertical ruler. The length of the second ruler must not be less than two cubits and a half. (8) And (the distance) between the two pivots, being the place(s) of the pin(s), on the vertical ruler, is (equal to) the amount from the place of the pin on the second ruler to the head of (that) ruler. (9) And the length of the third ruler shall be the amount of the chord of a quadrant such that half its diameter is the amount between the two pins, And two sights (10) are to be mounted on the second ruler. (As for) the third ruler, divide it in eighty- five divisions of (such) divisions that between. (11) the pole and the head of the second ruler is sixty (of these) divisions, and every degree is made sixty minutes, and the beginning of the numbers is from (12) near the base. Some (people), in place of the third ruler, mount a quadrant of a ring. An Armillary Sphere (lit. that having rings) is composed of (13) seven rings, each one of which is bounded by four surfaces, two planes parallel and two circular (cylindrical) surfaces, one outer (lit. the container), (14) and one inner (Jit, the contained). Set up the first ring in the meridian plane, and let the second ring be inside the first such that (15) its convex (surface) is tangent to the concave (surface) of the first ring, and on both sides of the first ring let two (or) three guide-plates (2) be fastened so that the second ring, from (16) inside, can be tilted on both sides, and is movable inside, And the third ring serves for the solsticial (17) colure. It should be mounted at the two poles, evenly with the second ring. The fourth ring serves for the (18) ecliptic. Let it make right angles with the third ring, and let one of its plane faces (19) be divided into twelve zodiacal signs and (into) degrees, and let each degree be (sub-)divided to the extent practicable. (20) The fifth and sixth rings represent two latitude circles inside the ring of the sol- sticial colure. Let them be mounted at the two poles of the ecliptic. (21) One face of the sixth ring shall be divided into six hundred and sixty-five (sic) degrees, and the seventh ring is to be mounted (22) inside the sixth ring in the fashion that the second ring is (mounted) inside the first ring. Two sights are to be set on this (23) ring opposite (each other). The first ring is set up in the meridian plane on a support. (On) the armillaryea ls Iie Fee ah ino Dairy Les rhiyplopaaiefe LBlanb ly Ca Byratlsensie hhcbe spor tpeiivspo nt pl S2Fs Lalas bitstue iy de tcp lonlpose Let-4) ake nalae bc asa 4.6 Pre eg at ao ees in Soto ea Pooh Ly eon Io ‘yin ie (Bae vena te Lal rb ert ipa ned$3 MAE fenpeete eae Adoni nesiges Ip Sas Splatt Wy LEY Wri wn Ce es ie rete ybstowd, tole tie Ye lelers pete Base epee Sh Biosoft ts CGratoigiphettal era} “SCs DV osdrolerir Ee Biers iseurrriida i SA gi Dinthayer Lalpae toss, febsch seaaritle b ify weashispes aes prderr sie, hye bor Rafsdahy Pesrectdlissepherbes briL Gap ie Dapa ptt eb LAY AZb: Sarsbesynens 4 Kailash ars bch, bla Pager sbetbayaey's SC Fro. 2.—Leiden Cod. Or. 945 (Warner) f.12v a 25102 JouRNAL oF Near EasTERn STUDIES (24) sphere which was constructed for the Mardgha observations the diameter of its first. ring was four Hashimi cubits, but those (used in) the ancient observations were (25) not more than a cubit. (For) the Bguinoctial Ring of the observations made in the time of “Adud al-Daula in Shiraz, a (26) ring was constructed the diameter of which was ten cubits; (it) was set up parallel to the plane of the celestial equator, for (27) observing the transfer of the sun through the two equinoctial (points). No gradua- tions were put on it at all. The Double Ring consists of two rings set up in the manner of fl2v. (1) the first and second rings of the armillary sphere, one face of the first ring being graduated in degrees and minutes. Two sights (2) are placed on the limb(?) of the second, opposite (each other). The first ring is fixed (on) a support, as is the case with the armillary sphere. The Fakhri Seztant, is'a sextant of a circle, set (3) up in the plane of the meridian circle, it being graduated in seconds, and it is such that (4) a wall is to be erected, of stone and plaster, such that the length of its base is eighty cubits and its thickness(?) four cubits, and the length of its height(’) (5) in the direction of north forty cubits, and to the south one cubit. Make (it) such that from the south side, from the base of the wall, to the (6) northern side, from the top of the wall, it is a sextant of the concavity of a ring, so that if a perpendicular from its center is erected to the horizon plane it will (7) pass through one side of the sextant, and that concavity is to be faced with [worked] stone, and in the middle of that, lengthwise, let a hollow be cut out, (8) the width of which will be four digits, and its depth one digit, Outside that, plates of copper or brass are emplaced so that (9) its visible surface is as accurately circular (as possible). Graduate it (the sextant) in degrees, minutes, and seconds. This (instrument) can sometimes be so (10) constructed that the meridian line is determinable with the extreme of accuracy. (The Instrument) Having Azimuth and Altitude, (11) A circular base is set up the altitude of which is a cubit and a half, and its diameter not less than five cubits. On top of it a plate of copper (12) or brass is so attached that its surface is parallel to the plane of the horizon. Two members of brass are arranged, of which (13) each includes two quadrants and two rectangular surfaces, One quadrant should be exact in circumference, and half the diameter of each of those two quadrants (14) shall be to the amount of half the diameter of the surface of the circular base, and ‘on each one of these let hinges be mounted so that sometimes (15) both ean be made to coincide and sometimes they shall make with each other a right angle. An iron shaft is to be made, in length (16) ore cubit more than half the diameter of that circle and such that those hinges enter it, and that which is additional (of the length) elevate (17) to the pole of the base circle. Graduate the rim of the base circle in degrees and minutes, and the (circular) rimsAu-Kisni's TREATISE ON ASTRONOMICAL OBSERVATIONAL INSTRUMENTS 103 (18) of those two (quadrantal) pieces are to be graduated in the same way. At the center of each of those two pieces mount a pivot and an alidade. This instrument (19) was made in Damascus, and after that, (one) was made in Maragha, but in ancient (times) it, did not exist. That Having the Sine and Versed Sine, (20) Construct a circular base by the same method as we described for the azimuth (-altitude) instrument, and let there be » board (made) of a long thick (piece of) wood such that (21) its depth is equal to its width, and its length equal to the diameter of the circular base. (22) Let a pivot be placed between that (board) and the center of the circle, and cut a long trough in the middle of it, and erect two square perpendiculars from the two sides (23) of the pivot, each one to the amount of half the diameter of the circle, such that the interval which is between the two is equal to the (width of) the trough (24) which was made in the middle of that board. And make in the middle of each, lengthwise, a trough, one opposite the other, and mount two (25) rulers, in length equal to the height of the perpendicular, and in thickness equal to (that of) the trough which was to be made in that board. (26) And on both mount a hinge, and pass an iron shaft through it such that it will stick out a little on both sides, (27) Both of these (hinges) are driven in between these two troughs smoothly. The sides of the troughs are to be graduated sexagesimally, in parts She sly eft herd whlscLe ciyh i pi o/s pet Lelie Mphaeupe: epi reaperly fie gro TY pal gS Alaa Lentonl naper| 422 1 Seen, a ae diplely PW Ah bl Foe Che zal Le plese cae 0 Gye est sy Fic, 3.—Leiden Cod. Or. 945 (Warner) £.13r fl3r (1) and minutes from one side, and fix two sights on each one of the rulers. This instrument did not (exist) at the (time of) the ancient observations. (2) The Small Armillary Sphere, This kind is operated with four rings: one for the meridian, one (3) for the solsticial eolure, one (for the) ecliptic, and one for the latitude circle. A diameter of this circle is to be connected by a long member, of104 JouRNaL or Nar Eastern Stupres: (4) the (same) substance as the ring, on both sides of the circle. An alidade is mounted on it, and this alidade stands for the interior latitude (5) (circle). The ecliptic and latitude circles must be graduated in parts and fractions. Part of the (6) meridian circle must be graduated. Tt must be made thus, that the first ring be movable on the pedestal according to the latitude of the locality. (7) It (the treatise) was composed by the least of the slaves of God, Jamshid bin Mas‘td bin Mahmad, the physician, al-Kashi, the one known as Ghiyath, may God improve (8) his status, in (the month of) Dhi al-Qa'da (in the) year 818 of the migration of the Prophet. ILL. Commentary References are to folio and line of the text, these being separated by a colon. fl2r:5, The Triquetum, or parallactie instrument, was first described and prob- ably invented by Ptolemy ([14] V, 12). It was well known to the Islamic astronomers, descriptions of it being given by al- Khazini[17] and al-Urdi, [20], for example. ‘The instrument is pictured, e.g., in [3], p. 129, and in [21], p. 590. It is used to. measure zenith distances by sighting along a rod which is pivoted at the top of a vertical rod of the same length as the first. The zenith distance is then the angle between the two rods, and its chord is ‘measured by means of a third rod, gradu- ated in sixtieths of the common length of the first two. By use of a table of sexa- gesimal chords such as that found in the Almagest ([14], ed. of Halma, vol. i, p. 38) the angle corresponding to the chord Jength can easily be obtained. The length of eighty-five for the third rod is easily explainable as follows. The maximum zenith distance of ninety degrees, for an object on the horizon, puts the instrament in the form of an isosceles right triangle, the hypotenuse of which is V2 times the length of a leg. The radius of the defining circle for the chords being divided sexa- gesimally, we have 602 ~ 85, rounded off to the nearest integer. ‘The triquetum is among the instruments deseribed in the Yiian-Shih ([5}, p. 187). fl2r:13, The Armillary Sphere, also first described in the Almagest ([14], V, 1; ef. [21], p. 59) and mentioned in the Yiian- ‘Shih ({5], p. 185), is a device which per- forms a transformation of celestial co- ordinates mechanically. The rings having been set parallel to their celestial counter- parts at the time in question, the latitude and longitude of an object sighted can be read off directly. ‘There is considerable variation in the number of rings called for by various authors. Kashi prescribes seven, while al-‘Urdi ((20), p. 33) says five will suffice, he having reduced the number by one over the six which Ptolemy demands by replacing with an alidade the one bearing the sights. In fact the description in the Almagest involves seven rings. Al‘Urdi also states correctly, that Theon describes a nine-ringed armillary sphere. As to the dimensions of the instrument, al-“Urdi writes that the inner diameter of the first ring was three cubits in contrast to the four mentioned by Kashi, The Hashimt cubit contained about 22} inches. For a full discussion of Islamic metro- logical units, see [6]. A curious and instructive picture of a large armillary has been reproduced in [16] from an illustration in a manuseript. f-12r:21. The “six hundred and sixty-