In Verona, a “medieval smartphone” has been discovered, hiding surprising information.
In Verona, scientists have identified an extremely rare astrolabe. The astronomical instrument dates back to the 11th century and features inscriptions in both Arabic and Hebrew.
Researchers from the University of Cambridge claim that this may be one of the oldest astrolabes ever discovered. The tool, dating back to the 11th century, was kept in a museum in Verona. However, until now, no one had conducted detailed studies of this artifact. When British scientists began analyzing the astrolabe, they noticed that it contained incredibly important information shedding light on medieval scientific and cultural exchange.
What is an astrolabe?
An astrolabe is a simple, transparent astronomical measuring device used until the early 18th century. One could say it was a kind of medieval “smartphone” or portable computer, allowing for the calculation of time, distance, and the positioning of stars.
It preceded the sextant. The device from Verona was produced in an Islamic country. However, Dr. Federica Gigante, the lead author of a paper just published in the scientific journal “Nuncius,” identified both Arabic and Hebrew inscriptions on its surface.
“When I visited the museum and examined the astrolabe closely, I noticed that it was not only covered with beautifully engraved Arabic inscriptions. I also noticed faint inscriptions in Hebrew. I could only see them thanks to the light coming in from the window. I thought I was dreaming. It was very exciting,” recalls Dr. Gigante.
An Object Connecting Different Worlds Through Learning
The Cambridge researcher argues that the astrolabe is an important artifact not only because it is a very rare item. “It is an extremely valuable record of scientific exchange between Arabs, Jews, and Christians over hundreds of years,” explains the scholar.
“The Verona astrolabe underwent many modifications, additions, and adaptations as its owners changed. At least three different users felt the need to add translations and corrections to this object, two using the Hebrew language and one using a Western European language,” she adds.
Where Does the Italian Astrolabe Come From?
Dr. Gigante decided to determine where the Verona astrolabe was produced. According to the researcher, the item came from Andalusia in Spain, which was under Moorish rule in the 11th century. Arabic engravings indicate the latitudes of Cordoba and Toledo.
The scholar suggests that the astronomical instrument was made in the latter city. “It was a thriving center of coexistence and cultural exchange between Muslims, Jews, and Christians at the time,” Dr. Gigante asserts. The astrolabe also features Muslim prayer verses and names of prayers arranged so that the original users would know exactly when to recite them.
That’s not all. The astrolabe also bore two Hebrew names: Isaac and Jonah. They were likely subsequent owners of the astrolabe.
“The Jewish names were written in the Arabic alphabet, suggesting that the object circulated among Sephardic Jewish communities in Spain at some point,” notes the study’s author.
The astrolabe contained an erroneous inscription
Dr. Gigante noticed that the astrolabe was marked with the latitude of Morocco or Egypt. The researcher claims that this is where the object from Spain ended up. About 100 years later, inscriptions in Hebrew appear on the artifact. Interestingly, the characters were likely created not by one, but probably several people.
“These Hebrew additions and translations suggest that at some point, the astrolabe left Spain or North Africa and circulated among the Jewish diaspora communities. Most likely in Italy, where the artifact was found. In this country, the Arabic language was not understood, so Hebrew was used instead,” explains Dr. Gigante.
The researcher also pointed out that one of the inscriptions on the astrolabe contained an error. It concerns the marking of the geographical latitude, which was recorded incorrectly. “This suggests that the person responsible for this was not an astronomer or the creator of this astrolabe,” she asserts.
“In 12th-century Verona, there was one of the longest-standing and most important Jewish communities in Italy. Ibn Ezra’s treatise presupposes existing knowledge of astrolabes among the Jewish community in this city, showing that this tool could already have been popular,” summarizes the scholar.
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