Conveners
S.2.1. The Interaction of Knowledge, Collections, and Instruments: From Encyclopedic Arrangements to Astronomical Simulations
- Jindra Kubickova & Zuzana Vařáková (Charles University)
- Gaye Danışan (Istanbul University)
- Samuel Gessner (CIUHCT, University of Lisbon)
Description
Chair: Ahmet Tunç Şen
While libraries are celebrated as havens of textual knowledge, they often also house a surprising array of instruments—from paper tools like volvelles embedded in books to robust three-dimensional objects such as globes, astrolabes, and sundials. This presentation serves as an open call to the scholarly community to remain vigilant in uncovering these hidden presences—whether encountered in...
This study explores the role of volvelles in Ottoman astronomy, focusing on Gıyās ed-Din Ibn Fath-Allah al-Kātib al-Baghdādī’s heart-shaped figure within a circular diagram in Ta‘rīb Tāj al-Madākhil fī ʿIlm al-Nujūm. Until now, Ottoman volvelles have primarily been encountered in practical works, such as calendars, with available information mainly limited to their usage. However,...
During the late 16th century, collecting became an increasingly significant element in the pursuit of understanding nature (e.g.: Findlen 1994; Bredekamp 1995; Daston, Park 1998; Findlen 2006). The Kunstkammer of Emperor Rudolf II constituted one of the most valuable collections of its kind in Renaissance Europe, and as evidenced by its preserved inventories, was characterized...
