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The Astrolabe

An ancient instrument for solving problems of location and distance, as well as time

Astrolábon órganon is the word used in Ptolemaeus Syntaxis 5.1 to describe a form of armillary sphere consisting of both fixed and rotating rings for determining the ecliptic co-ordinates of stars. Also called astrolabe were two-dimensional representations of the celestial sphere: over fixed disks with a representation of the horizon of the earth (in each case for a specific geographic latitude) and its parallels up to the zenith lies a rotating representation of the heavens (called ‘spider’ or ‘net’) with zodiac and indicators for some of the brightest stars. On the back is an indicator (‘alidade’) with visor plates for calculating the height of the stars. The astrolabe allows its user to determine the hours of day and night, the positions of stars, and the height and depth of objects on earth (mountains, buildings, wells). The oldest extant descriptions of the flat, planispheric astrolabe come from Iohannes Philoponus, 6th century AD, and (in Syrian) from Severus Sebokht, c. 660 AD. Indirect references may date back as early as Theon (4th cent.). Between the 8th and the 9th centuries the Arabs appropriated the knowledge of the astrolabe. At the end of the 10th century and again in the 12th century, they passed it on to Western Europe, where astrolabes were constructed up until the 17th cent. Today, one Byzantine astrolabe (from 1062) is extant, as are some 750 Arabic-Islamic astrolabes and approximately the same number of European astrolabes.

This information is abstracted from Brill's New Pauly, the English edition of the authoritative Der Neue Pauly, Encyclopaedia of the Ancient World. The encyclopaedic coverage and high academic standard of the work, the interdisciplinary and contemporary approach and clear and accessible presentation have made the New Pauly the unrivalled modern reference work for the ancient world. For more information see www.brillsnewpauly.com or visit our website catalog: www.brill.nl/bnp
Brill’s New Pauly and the complete original Der Neue Pauly, the recognized standard reference works for students and scholars of the ancient world are also available online. This dual-language edition offers basic and advanced search facilities and is fully browsable. New English translations are added as they become available. See www.paulyonline.brill.nl for more information and a demo version.

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Publications & Services> Books> Book Series> The Hague Journal of Diplomacy

The Hague Journal of Diplomacy

Edited by Jan Melissen, Netherlands Institute of International Relations ‘Clingendael’ and Paul Sharp University of Minnesota, Duluth

Journals


ISSN:	1871-1901
E-ISSN:	1871-191X

Current:	Volume 4 (2009)
Number of Issues:	3
List price Individuals:	€ 68.00 / US$ 100.00
List price Institutions:	€ 202.00 / US$ 297.00
List price institutions online only:	€ 182.00 / US$ 267.00

Editorial Board

Editors: Jan Melissen, Netherlands Institute of International Relations ‘Clingendael’; Paul Sharp, University of Minnesota, Duluth. Associate editors: Brian Hocking, Loughborough University; Geoffrey Wiseman, University of Southern California. International Advisory Board: Zhimin Chen, Fudan University; Raymond Cohen, The Hebrew University; Rik Coolsaet, University of Ghent; Andrew Cooper, University of Waterloo; James Der Derian, Brown University; Eytan Gilboa, Bar-Ilan University; John Hemery, Centre for Political and Diplomatic Studies; Alan Henrikson, Tufts University; Christer Jönsson, University of Lund; William Maley, The Australian National University; Iver B. Neumann, The Norwegian Institute of International Affairs; Kishan S. Rana, Delhi, India; David Spence, European Commission Delegation; Tatiana Zonova, Mgmio University.

Abstracting & Indexing

International Bibliography of the Social Sciences Worldwide Political Science Abstracts PAIS International

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Readership

The Hague Journal of Diplomacy’s readership will first of all be universities and think tanks, in particular researchers, teachers and graduate students of International Relations, together with educators and trainees on programmes in Diplomatic St

Back Volumes

The Hague Journal of Diplomacy, Volume 2 (2007)

The Hague Journal of Diplomacy, Volume 3 (2008)

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NOW AVAILABLE - Online submission: Articles for publication in The Hague Journal of Diplomacy may be submitted online, please click here. The Hague Journal of Diplomacy is the premier research journal for the study of diplomacy and its role in contemporary international relations. It publishes the best research on the theory, practice and technique of diplomacy in both its traditional state-based bilateral and multilateral forms, plus more recent forms of diplomacy such as track-two diplomacy, field diplomacy and public diplomacy practised by states and non-state entities. Each issue contains research articles and at least one piece focused on the practical aspects of diplomatic experience. The Hague Journal of Diplomacy promotes the analysis and understanding of diplomacy by acquainting a broad readership with the best works being undertaken in diplomatic studies in a variety of intellectual traditions. Diplomatic studies is an inter-disciplinary and inclusive field. The Hague Journal of Diplomacy is therefore open to the wide array of methodologies by which diplomacy may be studied. The Hague Journal of Diplomacy’s readership is first of all universities and think tanks, in particular researchers, teachers and graduate students of International Relations, together with educators and trainees on programmes in Diplomatic Studies. Secondly, The Hague Journal of Diplomacy is a journal for everyone with an interest or stake in first-rate and accessible articles on all aspects of diplomacy, not least the world’s foreign ministries and diplomatic academies. For more information visit also the book series Diplomatic Studies.

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