What is it about?
An unattributed astrolabe which has been in the British Museum for over 250 years has been attributed as a teaching tool for the teenage Prince Edward of Windsor, shortly before his was crowned Edward III in 1326. The quatrefoils on its rete stand for 'corona regia' (the plant king's crown).
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Why is it important?
This is the earliest, largest and most important scientific instrument in the Latin West. Understanding the various engravings on it gives an insight into the upbringing of Edward III, leading him to the Battle of Crecy and the start of the Hundred Years War.
Perspectives
This is a non-technical investigation of this fascinating and hitherto puzzling scientific instrument. A full technical analysis of its unique scales, leading to an insight of its design and manufacture, is underway. It also unlocks an understanding of other fourteenth century English astrolabes leading up to the ones described by Geoffrey Chaucer in his 'Treatise on the Astrolabe' and used for many of the stories in The Canterbury Tales.
John Davis
Read the Original
This page is a summary of: Fit for a King: Decoding the Great Sloane Astrolabe and Other English Astrolabes with “Quatrefoil” Retes, Medieval Encounters, September 2017, Brill,
DOI: 10.1163/15700674-12342250.
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