Mariam al-Asturlabi
Mariam al-Asturlabiyy (Arabic: مريم الأسطرلابي or al-ʻIjliyyah bint al-ʻIjliyy al-Asturlabiyy (Arabic: العجلية بنت العجلي الأسطرلابي),[1] was a 10th-century astronomer and maker of astrolabes in Aleppo, in what is now northern Syria.[2][3]
Early life
She was the daughter of an astrolabist known as al-ʻIjliyy al-Asturlabī.[3] According to ibn al-Nadim, she was an apprentice (tilmīthah) of Muḥammad ibn ʻAbd Allāh Nasṭūlus.[3]
Career
Al-'Ijliyah developed and manufactured astrolabes, an astronomical and navigation instrument, during the 10th century.[1][4] She was employed by the Emir of Aleppo, Sayf al-Dawla, who reigned from 944 to 967 AD.[3][1]
Honours
The main-belt asteroid 7060 Al-'Ijliya, discovered by Henry E. Holt at Palomar Observatory in 1990, was named in her honor.[2] Naming citation was published on 14 November 2016 (M.P.C. 102252).[5]
She inspired a character in 2015 award-winning book Binti.[6] She was named an extraordinary woman from the Golden Age of Muslim Civilisation by 1001 Inventions.[7]
See also
- Astronomy in the medieval Islamic world
- List of Muslim astronomers
- List of women astronomers
- Timeline of women in science
References
- Salim Al-Hassani. "Women's Contribution to Classical Islamic Civilisation: Science, Medicine and Politics". Archived from the original on 2016-07-27. Retrieved 2016-08-15.
- "7060 Al-'Ijliya (1990 SF11)". Minor Planet Center. Retrieved 21 November 2016.
- Dodge, Bayard (1970). The Fihrist of Al-Nadīm: A Tenth-century Survey of Muslim Culture. Columbia University Press. p. 671. ISBN 978-0-231-02925-4.
- "How astronomers and instrument-makers in Muslim civilisations expanded our knowledge of the universe | Muslim Women's Council". www.muslimwomenscouncil.org.uk. Archived from the original on 2016-08-13. Retrieved 2016-08-12.
- "MPC/MPO/MPS Archive". Minor Planet Center. Retrieved 21 November 2016.
- Emmet Asher-Perrin (2016-06-02). "The Inspiration for Nnedi Okorafor's Binti is a Muslim Scientist From the 10th Century". Tor.com. Retrieved 2018-11-18.
- "Extraordinary Women from the Golden Age of Muslim Civilisation". 1001 Inventions. Retrieved 2018-11-18.
External links
- Astrolabe: the 13th Century iPhone – Daily Sabah
- GPS and its Islamic origins, The Star Online, 3 October 2013