History-telling through astronomical instruments enables us to follow clues about cross-cultural exchange from different aspects. From this view, our preliminary analysis of Ottoman astronomical literature uncovers clear evidence of significant scientific engagements in astronomical instruments with countries such as England, France, and Germany from 1773 to 1923. Therefore, this research project holds immense importance as it aims to identify and trace the European influence on Ottoman education and beyond, focusing on both the tangible impact of astronomical instruments and the influence embedded in written texts. Additionally, it seeks to assess these instruments within the context of Ottoman science, considering basic astronomical and mathematical principles. For this purpose, the study focuses on determining the diversity of scientific instruments transferred, analysing their areas of use, and disseminating them in the Ottoman astronomy literature.

Tracing scientific instruments in Ottoman sources

In 2017, I started my studies and developed an interest in astronomical instruments after encountering a treatise suggested by Dr Gaye Danışan, a member of the Department of the History of Science at Istanbul University, for presentation at a congress.

The first treatise I began to study, titled Tercüme-i Küre-i Müşebbeke Aleti (the translation of the instrument of armillary sphere) or Küre-i Sema Aleti (‘Instrument of the celestial sphere’) [1], or Risale-i Mukaddime-i Küre (‘Treatise on the introduction to the celestial sphere’) [2], is kept in both the Istanbul University Rare Books Library and the Konya Koyunoğlu Museum. It was translated from French into Turkish by Aleko-zâde Yorgaki Petropulos (fl. 1872), who was a translator attached to the Sublime Porte and the Seraskier (commander-in-chief of the Ottoman army, under the Ministry of War), in 1266 Hijri (1849/50) for instruction in higher education institutions within the Ottoman Empire. Although these manuscripts do not contain images, the styles of the instruments can be traced since the author describes two types of celestial spheres in detail (see Figure 1) [3]. 

The manuscript includes a description of the ringed spheres made according to the Ptolemaic and Copernican systems and information on the use of these spheres. After stating that the most well-known models for sky observation belong to Ptolemy and Copernicus, the section titled ‘Sphere by the Ptolemaic model’ was started after this general astronomical information. This section consists of the first chapter in which the structure of the sphere is explained and a total of 12 chapters in which information about the rings on the sphere is given one by one.

When the copies in Koyunoğlu Museum and Istanbul University Rare Works Library are analysed comparatively, differences in the date information and dedication of the work stand out rather than the differences in the information given about both copies. The date of the work is given only in the Koyunoğlu Museum copy. On the last page of this copy, the date 1266 Hijri is noted, which corresponds to the years 1849/50 CE. On the other hand, there is no date in the copy of the Istanbul University Rare Works Library. However, there is the following information in that copy, which is not included in the Koyunoğlu Museum copy; in the preface, the author dedicates his work to the Seraskier (commander-in-chief of the Ottoman army) Mehmet Fuad Pasha (1815-69). Mehmet Fuad Pasha held very important positions in the Ottoman Empire in the fields of translation and book publishing.

In the chapter titled ‘Sphere by the Copernican model’, Copernicus stated that it was revealed by observations that the Earth revolves on its axis daily for twenty-four hours and around the Sun in one year. Petropulos draws attention to the fact that the problems encountered during observation in the Ptolemaic model due to the Earth being at the centre were eliminated with the Copernican model.

Considering also that Danışan points to similarities between the description of celestial spheres in the text and instruments in the Bibliothèque Nationale de France (BnF) collection, I believe that conducting a comparative study on the celestial spheres in the BnF collection can provide more insights into tracing celestial spheres in Ottoman literature. For this purpose, I would like to examine the BnF collection in France.

Secondly, I became deeply interested in the role of demonstration of instruments for education in the Ottoman Empire. Therefore, I embarked on a search for similar works in Ottoman scientific literature. My exploration led me to discover a copy of Ali Allahyar’s Sema Aleti İzahnâmesi (Prospectus of the Celestial Instrument) in the Atatürk Library [4]. My interest in this work intensified during my master’s thesis, entitled Eclipse Calculations and Observation in Ottoman Astronomy (1800-1922). It was further fuelled by Gaye Danışan, my thesis supervisor, who highlighted the similarities between the eclipse indicators in Ali Allahyar’s work and the eclipse instruments found in the BnF collection (see Figure 2) [5]. During my study, Allahyar’s work will be compared with the astronomical instruments in the BnF collection as well as those in the collections of other museums.

Interpreting history through scientific instruments

During the preliminary research for this study, I encountered numerous scientific and astronomical instruments dating from the eighteenth to the twentieth centuries across various collections in Türkiye. These collections include the History of Science Collections at the Kandilli Observatory and Earthquake Research Institute, as well as the History of Science Collections of Istanbul Technical University. One such instrument is the universal sundial found in the History of Science collection at Istanbul Technical University, designed for use in any geographic location. It is believed that this instrument was imported to the Ottoman Empire from abroad (see Figure 3).  Currently, detailed information regarding its origin and intended use —whether for educational or observational purposes— is lacking. Therefore, one of the aims of this research project trace its historical journey and shed light on its significance.

Another example comes from the History of Science Collection at the Kandilli Observatory and Earthquake Research Institute. A sundial, which tells time by igniting gunpowder placed in the cannon on it, was brought from France in the 19th century (see Figure 4 and Figure 5).

The diversity of instruments and artifacts encountered in museums is exciting, yet many unanswered questions remain. When the study period is pre-analysed, it is observed that scientific information was transmitted to the Ottoman Empire through texts and scientific instruments from various places such as France, England and Germany. This transmission of knowledge occurred through various channels. For instance, treatises were translated to be used as educational materials in institutions, materials and treatises were brought back through visits to various parts of Europe, or materials and treatises were brought by travelers to the Ottoman Empire. This situation raises several questions: who were the users of scientific instruments brought from different traditions? Were these works exclusively for students, or were they also utilised by sailors, muwaqqits (timekeepers), and munajjims (astronomers) of the period? Were the translated works utilised in educational institutions? Did these works impact the production of scientific instruments in the Ottoman Empire? 

In this context, within the scope of the project, I aim to explore the structural features of these instruments and trace their historical journeys. 

I hope to present a detailed and comprehensive analysis of the instruments and treatises in the aforementioned collections in a forthcoming article in the SIS-Bulletin.

References

[1] Yorgaki Petropulos, Küre-i Sema Aleti, Konya Koyunoğlu Museum, MS 11357, AH 1266, 29 folios.

[2] Yorgaki Petropulos, Risale-i Mukaddime-i Küre, Istanbul University Rare Books Library, TY 6549, AH 1266, 29 folios.

[3] Özdemir, Solmaz Ceren 2017: “Yorgaki Petropolos’un Batlamyus ve Kopernik Modellerine Göre Tasvir Ettiği Küre-i Müşebbeke Aleti”, Istanbul University, Department of the History of Science Student Congress, 5 May 2017.

[4] Ali Allahyar, Sema Aleti İzahnâmesi ([İstanbul]: [Maarif-i Umumiye Nezâreti Telif ve Tercüme Dairesi], 1334 R [1918].

[5] Danışan, Gaye 2020: A Scientific tour among the mathematical instruments in the collection of the Bibliothèque Nationale de France”, Osmanlı Bilimi Araştırmaları 21/2: 427-434.