Ulugh Beg's Book of the Constellations

Ulugh Beg's Book of the Constellations – Müller & Schindler  – MS Arabe 5036 – Bibliothèque nationale de France (Paris, France)

Samarkand (Uzbekistan) — Ca. 1430–1440

Golden stars and mythical figures in a magnificent star catalog for the personal use of the Prince of Samarkand: Ulug Beg's copy of Al-Sufi's impressively precise 10th-century masterpiece of astronomy

  1. The astronomer, mathematician and governor of Samarkand Ulug Beg (1394–1449) commissioned the magnificent manuscript between 1430 and 1440

  2. A copy of the astronomical treatise of the 10th century Persian scholar Al-Sufi

  3. 74 large, gold-adorned miniatures illuminate the precise descriptions of constellations and celestial bodies

Ulugh Beg's Book of the Constellations

Facsimile Copy Available!
Price Category: €€€
(3,000€ - 7,000€)
  1. Description
  2. Detail Picture
  3. Single Page
  4. Facsimile Editions (2)
Description
Ulugh Beg's Book of the Constellations

Ulugh Beg was not only the governor of Samarkand, but also an idealistic patron and financier of science and the arts, and a gifted mathematician and astronomer himself. As such, he had the Book of the Constellations copied and magnificently illuminated for his own use between 1430 and 1440. The basis for this impressively accurate star catalogue is an astronomical treatise from the 10th century, which was intended to assist the prince in his own observations of the heavens. The influential and calligraphically unsurpassable text is complemented by 74 enchanting, often full-page miniatures of the star constellations described. In the delicately drawn, pastel-coloured miniatures, the individual stars shine in brilliant gold and are sized according to their brightness. Stars that do not belong to the constellation are shown in red,and all are identified by name with the help of inscriptions. This masterpiece of Central Asian art is without doubt one of the most beautiful manuscripts on the night sky and demonstrates a breathtaking interplay of scientific knowledge and artistic sophistication!

A splendid astronomical manuscript for the palace library

Astronomy is one of the oldest sciences in human history. The Timurid prince Ulug Beg (1394–1449) also seems to have had the desire to fathom the universe and the role of the Earth in it. It was clear to him that this would require a precise star catalog as a basis, which is why he had the Book of the Constellations copied and magnificently illuminated at his court in Samarkand between ca. 1430 and 1440.

A passionate scientist on the throne

Ulug Beg led astronomy to a new heyday in the 15th century during his rule over Samarkand. He was not only a patron and financier of science and the arts, but also a gifted mathematician and astronomer himself. Thus, it is not surprising that he had the famous observatory built, which at that time was ranked as the best observatory in the world and enabled incredibly accurate observations of the sky. For example, Ulug Beg and his scholars managed to calculate the stellar year to an accuracy of 58 seconds.
His fascination with science is evident from an early age: Only shortly after his grandfather, the Timurid ruler Timurlengs, appointed him governor of Samarkand at the age of 15, he founded a university in the legendary city on the Silk Road and thereby gathered numerous scholars at his court, with whom he jointly pursued science.

Für Jahrhunderte unübertroffene Präzision

The Book of the Constellations is a copy of the remarkable astronomical treatise and star catalog by the Persian scholar Al-Sufi (903–986). Back in the 10th century, he succeeded in combining the findings of Ptolemy's (100–160) Almagest with Arabic literature and his own observations to create a work that was unsurpassed in precision for centuries and soon became the standard in both the Islamic and Christian worlds. In it, Al-Sufi even described the Magellanic Cloud and the Andromeda Galaxy.

Astronomische Konstellationen in atemberaubenden Miniaturen

The constellations and celestial bodies described in the calligraphically refined text are illuminated in this magnificent copy of Al-Sufi's work with 74 enchanting, often full-page miniatures, which not only have aesthetic value, but are also useful for scientific observation of the sky. All constellations are shown in duplicate: once as they can be seen in the sky from Earth, and once the other way around as a projection onto a sphere, as if viewed from space.
In the delicately drawn, pastel-colored miniatures, which show some influences from Chinese art, the individual stars shine in brilliant gold, their size being based on their brightness. Meanwhile, those stars that do not belong to the respective constellation appear in red, though all are identified by inscriptions with their names. A breathtaking interplay of scientific knowledge and artistic sophistication!

Codicology

Alternative Titles
Ulug Begs Buch der Fixsterne
Die Astronomie des Prinzen – Das Buch der Fixsterne (Ulugh Beg)
Book of the Constellations of the Fixed Stars
Book of Fixed Stars
The Stars of Samarkand
Kitāb suwar al-kawākib al-tābita
Size / Format
494 pages / 24.5 × 18.5 cm
Date
Ca. 1430–1440
Language
Script
Naskh script
Illustrations
93 large illustrations of the constellations, two of them double-page and many full-page
Content
Kitāb suwar al-kawākib al-tābita by al-Sūfī
Patron
Ulugh Beg
Previous Owners
Sādiq Hāfiz Efendi Kathudā Zādeh
J. Klatz

Available facsimile editions:
Ulugh Beg's Book of the Constellations – Müller & Schindler  – MS Arabe 5036 – Bibliothèque nationale de France (Paris, France)
Müller & Schindler – Simbach am Inn, 2022
Limited Edition: 600 copies

Ulugh Beg's Book of the Constellations – Müller & Schindler  – MS Arabe 5036 – Bibliothèque nationale de France (Paris, France)
Müller & Schindler – Simbach am Inn, 2022
Limited Edition: 600 copies
Detail Picture

Ulugh Beg's Book of the Constellations

Constellation Qaīṭus

Facing east, the constellation Qaīṭus or Cetus, the whale, appears as a large, dragon-like sea monster. The body of the hybrid creature spans 22 golden stars, its scales and tail fin characterizing it as a sea creature, while its head, wings and claw-armored paws evoke associations more with a Chinese dragon. The flickering flames, the tufts of hair on its lower jaw, and its peaceful yet powerful aura also contribute to this. Another surprising feature is the double hoop around the animal's slender neck, which suggests its domestication.

Ulugh Beg's Book of the Constellations – Müller & Schindler  – MS Arabe 5036 – Bibliothèque nationale de France (Paris, France)
Single Page

Ulugh Beg's Book of the Constellations

Constellation Al-ꜤadraꜤ.

Al-ꜤadraꜤ, the Virgin, strides north as a young, winged woman conforming to the Chinese ideal of beauty of the time. 26 golden celestial bodies are part of this figure, representing the second largest constellation in the sky, while six external "stars" in red color are grouped in the north, known today as Virgo galaxy clusters.

The impressive and at the same time filigree appearing wings are particularly emphasized by their coloration of blue and red tones against the light robe and the pale flesh tone. However, they are not only of aesthetic value, but also solve a problem of representation: without wings, it is hardly possible to artistically integrate the star at the upper left into the figure. Even the brightest and thus largest star of the constellation on the right palm of Virgo is just barely within the figure.

Ulugh Beg's Book of the Constellations – Müller & Schindler  – MS Arabe 5036 – Bibliothèque nationale de France (Paris, France)
Facsimile Editions

#1 Die Astronomie des Prinzen – Das Buch der Fixsterne (Ulugh Beg)

Müller & Schindler – Simbach am Inn, 2022

Publisher: Müller & Schindler – Simbach am Inn, 2022
Limited Edition: 600 copies
Binding: Red leather cover with textile insert
Commentary: 1 volume
Language: English, German
1 volume: Exact reproduction of the original document (extent, color and size) Reproduction of the entire original document as detailed as possible (scope, format, colors). The binding may not correspond to the original or current document binding.
Facsimile Copy Available!
Price Category: €€€
(3,000€ - 7,000€)

#2 Die Astronomie des Prinzen – Das Buch der Fixsterne (Ulugh Beg)

Müller & Schindler – Simbach am Inn, 2022

Publisher: Müller & Schindler – Simbach am Inn, 2022
Limited Edition: 600 copies
Binding: Red leather cover with textile insert
Commentary: 1 volume
Language: English, German
1 volume: Exact reproduction of the original document (extent, color and size) Reproduction of the entire original document as detailed as possible (scope, format, colors). The binding may not correspond to the original or current document binding.
Facsimile Copy Available!
Price Category: €€€
(3,000€ - 7,000€)
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