Al-Khazini
Persian astronomer and mechanician (1100–1200) From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Abū al-Fath Abd al-Rahman Mansūr al-Khāzini or simply al-Khāzini (أبوالفتح عبدالرحمن منصور الخازنی (Persian), flourished 1115–1130) was an Iranian astronomer of Byzantine Greek origin who lived during the Seljuk Empire.[1][2][3][4] His astronomical tables written under the patronage of Sultan Sanjar (Zīj al-Sanjarī, 1115) is considered to be one of the major works in mathematical astronomy of the medieval period.[5]: 107 He provided the positions of fixed stars, and for oblique ascensions and time-equations for the latitude of Marv in which he was based.[6]: 197 He also wrote extensively on various calendrical systems and on the various manipulations of the calendars.[5] Al-Khazini was the author of an encyclopedia on scales and water-balances called The Book of the Balance of Wisdom (Kitab Mizan al-Hikmah, 1121), which explored theories of density, specific gravities of metals, precious stones, and liquids, as well as principles of equilibrium.[7][8]
al-Khazini | |
|---|---|
| Born | 11th century |
| Died | 12th century |
| Occupation | Scientist |
| Scientific career | |
| Fields | Astronomy, Mathematics |
Life
Summarize
Perspective
Al-Khazini was an emancipated slave in Marv,[6]: 197 [9] which was then one of the most important cities of Khorasan. He got his name from his master (Abu‘l Husayn ‘Alī ibn Muhammad al-Khāzin al-Marwazī) who was the treasurer of Marv.[5]: 107 The term khāzin was simply the title of the royal treasurer since the early Islamic period.[10] His master made provisions so that al-Khazini could obtain a first-class education.[5] Some believe that al-Khazini was a pupil of Omar Khayyam.[9] While this is not known, he wrote about Khayyam, in particular, he gave a description of the water-balance invented by him (and improved upon by Al-Isfizari).[6]: 176 And according to some sources, he collaborated with him on the reformation of the Persian calendar in 1079.[11]: 199
Al-Khazini was known for being a humble man. He refused thousands of Dinar for his works, saying he did not need much to live on because it was only his cat and himself in his household.[7] Al-Khazini was one of only about twenty astronomers of the Islamic era who performed original observations.[7] His works reached Byzantium in the 14th century, in particular, they were studied by George Chrysococces and later by Theodore Meliteniotes.[5]: 107
Achievements
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Perspective
Al Khazini seems to have been a high government official under Sanjar ibn Malikshah and the sultan of the Seljuk Empire. He did most of his work in Merv, where they are known for their libraries.[7] His best-known works are "The Book of the Balance of Wisdom", "Treatise on Astronomical Wisdom", and "The Astronomical Tables for Sanjar".[7]
"The Book of the Balance of Wisdom" is an encyclopedia of medieval mechanics and hydrostatics composed of eight books with fifty chapters.[7] It is a study of the hydrostatic balance and the ideas behind statics and hydrostatics, it also covers other unrelated topics.[7] There are four different manuscripts of "The Book of the Balance of Wisdom" that have survived.[7] The balance al-Khazini built for Sanjar's treasury was modeled after the balance al-Asfizari, who was a generation older than al-Khazini, built.[7] Sanjar's treasurer out of fear destroyed al-Asfizari's balance; he was filled with grief when he heard the news.[7] Al-Khazini called his balance "combined balance" to show honor towards Al-Asfizari.[7] The meaning of the balance was a "balance of true judgment".[7] The job of this balance was to help the treasury see what metals were precious and which gems were real or fake.[7] In "The Book of the Balance of Wisdom" al-Khazini states many different examples from the Koran ways that his balance fits into religion.[7] When al-Khazini explains the advantages of his balance he says that it "performs the functions of skilled craftsmen", its benefits are theoretical and practical precision.[7]
The "Treatise on Astronomical Wisdom" is a relatively short work.[7] It has seven parts and each part is assigned to a different scientific instrument.[7] The seven instruments include: a triquetrum, a dioptra, a "triangular instrument," a quadrant, devices involving reflection, an astrolabe, and simple tips for viewing things with the naked eye.[7] The treatise describes each instrument and its uses.[7]
"The Astronomical Tables for Sanjar" is said to have been composed for Sultan Sanjar, the ruler of Merv and his balance was made for Sanjar's treasury.[7] The tables in "The Astronomical Tables for Sanjar" are tables of holidays, fasts, etc.[7] The tables are said to have the latitudes and longitudes of forty-three different stars, along with their magnitudes and (astrological) temperaments.[7] It is said that al-Khazini's observations for this work were probably done in Merv in various observatories with high quality instruments.[7]
See also
- Al-Khazini, Book of the Balance of Wisdom (Eng). A Wikimedia pdf of the English translation by Khanikoff and the editors of the Journal of the Oriental Society in 1859 from a single Arabic manuscript which is also reproduced. In 2015, the only available English translation.
- Al-Khazini, Book of the Balance of Wisdom (English). A link to the same at the Internet Archive (see page 1 following).
References
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