The role of cultural and social factors in decorating safavid astrolabes

Abstract

Astrolabes as the most advanced astronomical tool of Islamic world, was so attended during the Islamic period; and In the Safavid period, astrolabe became more and more important that their designs, decorations and changes shows that and seams it was influenced by various factors including cultural and social factors. The purpose of this study is to identify the cultural and social factors affecting the decorating of Iranian Safavid astrolabes and studying their effects. In this regard, this research is a descriptive-analytical method that uses visual and written sources such as library and internet to study various factors including belief in astronomy and superstition, officialization of religion (Shia), nationalism and tendency towards Persian literature, kings' support and thrive of metalworking, economic situation and prosperity of different classes of society. The research results show that these factors made the astrolabe-making thrive, localization of it’s knowledge, a good conditions for the activities of astrolabists were provided, the motifs and decorations of the astrolabe became more crowded and elegant and found an Iranian, Safavid and Shi’i identity.

Keywords

• safavid metalwork
• astrolabe
• astrolabe’s motifs
• safavid astrolabe’s decorate