The Canterbury Astrolabe Quadrant. British Museum, London.
The Canterbury Astrolabe Quadrant is the only one of its kind known to definitely have been made in England.[2] Astrolabes are calculation instruments that enable their users to tell the time and determine their geographical latitude using the position of the sun and stars.[3] An extremely rare instrument, the Canterbury Astrolabe Quadrant probably belonged to a travelling scholar who may have lost it in Canterbury while on pilgrimage to that city.
It is also the first astrolabe to have been found during an archaeological dig. Scientific instruments such as this are usually handed down from generation to generation or found among family possessions, but are rarely discovered in the ground.[2]
The British Museum was originally outbid in an auction in 2007 for the brass astrolabe, but succeeded in having an export ban imposed on the device,[4] one of only eight such instruments to have survived from the Middle Ages. The British Museum eventually purchased it in 2008 with £175,000 from The British Museum Friends plus grants of £125,000 from the National Heritage Memorial Fund and £50,000 from The Art Fund.[3][5][6]
Andrew Burnett, Deputy Director of the British Museum, said, "It is wonderful that we have been able to acquire this unique object... The quadrant will be a very important addition to our medieval collection as an object which can explain the sophistication of science in the Middle Ages and the transfer of knowledge between Muslim, Jewish and Christian communities."[3]
canterbury, astrolabe, quadrant, medieval, astrolabe, believed, date, from, 1388, which, found, archaeological, house, agnes, breakfast, hotel, canterbury, kent, england, 2005, british, museum, london, only, kind, known, definitely, have, been, made, england, . The Canterbury Astrolabe Quadrant is a medieval astrolabe believed to date from 1388 and which was found in an archaeological dig at the House of Agnes 1 a bed and breakfast hotel in Canterbury Kent England in 2005 The Canterbury Astrolabe Quadrant British Museum London The Canterbury Astrolabe Quadrant is the only one of its kind known to definitely have been made in England 2 Astrolabes are calculation instruments that enable their users to tell the time and determine their geographical latitude using the position of the sun and stars 3 An extremely rare instrument the Canterbury Astrolabe Quadrant probably belonged to a travelling scholar who may have lost it in Canterbury while on pilgrimage to that city It is also the first astrolabe to have been found during an archaeological dig Scientific instruments such as this are usually handed down from generation to generation or found among family possessions but are rarely discovered in the ground 2 The British Museum was originally outbid in an auction in 2007 for the brass astrolabe but succeeded in having an export ban imposed on the device 4 one of only eight such instruments to have survived from the Middle Ages The British Museum eventually purchased it in 2008 with 175 000 from The British Museum Friends plus grants of 125 000 from the National Heritage Memorial Fund and 50 000 from The Art Fund 3 5 6 Andrew Burnett Deputy Director of the British Museum said It is wonderful that we have been able to acquire this unique object The quadrant will be a very important addition to our medieval collection as an object which can explain the sophistication of science in the Middle Ages and the transfer of knowledge between Muslim Jewish and Christian communities 3 See also EditList of astronomical instrumentsReferences Edit The Canterbury Astrolabe Quadrant on the House of Agnes website Archived from the original on 2012 02 06 Retrieved 2012 03 04 a b Astrolabe quadrant from Canterbury British Museum Retrieved 22 November 2009 a b c Adams Stephen 30 July 2008 Unique medieval astrolabe saved by the British Museum The Daily Telegraph Retrieved 22 November 2009 Time ticks on rescue of rare 14th century pocket astrolabe quadrant Department for Culture Media and Sport 4 December 2007 Archived from the original on 3 September 2009 Retrieved 22 November 2009 British Museum second time lucky in securing rare astrolabe quadrant National Heritage Memorial Fund 30 July 2008 Archived from the original on 12 February 2010 Retrieved 22 November 2009 British Museum HighlightsExternal links EditThe Astrolabe on Curator amp CollectorPortals Astronomy Stars England Science Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Canterbury Astrolabe Quadrant amp oldid 1081310746, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
