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Miscellany of scientific

works, one part based on

Zij-i Ilkhani of Al Tusi.

(Tables of the year 1309)

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Like most Islamic maps south is on top and the southern continent is Africa with the East African coast running West to East instead of North to South. The enormous red brown mass in the upper right corner of the circle is the Mountain of the Moon. From where a double Nile runs towards the Mediterranean. The red tower in between its two mouths is the Lighthouse of Alexandria dating from classical times and which was then already in ruins. This double Nile is only found on this type of maps. This map is the only one among its copies that has a variation of the double Nile with the second river having a spring not from the Mountain of the Moon. The circle on top of the mountain represents the moon.

The first half of this work is largely concerned with providing rules and tables for marking calendric and astronomic calculations. The manuscript includes conversion tables for the Islamic, Persian, Greek, Eastern Christian and Chinese-Uighur calendars, as well as charts showing the placement of the stars and planets in accordance with the time of the year. In addition, the manuscript contains a map of the world based on the Greek notion of the seven climes. Note that the sea on the right is the Mediterranean; so Europe is not really on the map.

A number of the tables refer to the year A.H. 709/A.D. 1309 as the date of composition.

The inclusion of tables for these calendars and the fact that the original composition of many of the tables can be dated to 1309, shortly after the death of al Tusi, make it likely that the Miscellany drew heavily upon the Zij-i Ilkhani. (1)

A copy of this map can be found in: (compiled for) Padshah Adil Aran Khan: Collective ms. Leiden Or. 563 (2) with astronomical and medical tables (1390)(Persia). Another copy in the work of Zinat al-Munjim ibn Sulayman Qanooni  (3)(1371). And also: Ann: Taqwim-i Tarikhi (4)(Historical Calendar) (1450)

 

This map also resembles the 16th century map of Ali Mustapha al Galliapoli (Turkey) which is given here.