Astrolabe  

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 +An '''astrolabe''' ({{lang-gr|ἀστρολάβον ''astrolabon'', "star-taker"}}) is an elaborate [[inclinometer]], historically used by [[astronomy|astronomers]], [[navigators]], and [[astrologers]]. Its many uses include locating and predicting the positions of the [[Sun]], [[Moon]], [[planets]], and [[star]]s, determining local time given local latitude and vice-versa, surveying, [[triangulation]], and to cast [[horoscope]]s. It was used in [[classical antiquity]], through the [[Islamic Golden Age]], the European [[Middle Ages]] and [[Renaissance]] for all these purposes. In the Islamic world, it was also used to calculate the [[Qibla]] and to find the times for [[Salah]], prayers.
-Astrolabe, the son of Abelard and Héloïse, is mentioned only once in their surviving correspondence, when [[Peter the Venerable]] writes to Heloise: "I will gladly do my best to obtain a [[prebend]] in one of the great churches for your Astrolabe, who is also ours for your sake".+There is often confusion between the astrolabe and the [[mariner's astrolabe]]. While the astrolabe could be useful for determining latitude on land, it was an awkward instrument for use on the heaving deck of a ship or in wind. The mariner's astrolabe was developed to address these issues.
- +
-The ''Problemata Heloissae'' (Héloïse's Problems) is a collection of 42 theological questions directed from Héloïse to Abélard at the time when she was abbess at the Paraclete, and his answers to them.+
- +
-== Burial ==+
-Héloïse's place of burial is uncertain. According to the [[Père Lachaise|Père-Lachaise Cemetery]], the remains of both lovers were transferred from the Oratory in the early 19th century and were reburied in the famous crypt on their grounds.+
- +
-The Oratory of the Paraclete claims Héloïse and Abélard are buried there and that what exists in Père-Lachaise is merely a monument. There are still others who believe that while Abélard is buried in the crypt at Père-Lachaise, Héloïse's remains are elsewhere.+
- +
-==Cultural references==+
-===In literature===+
-*In the novel ''[[I Capture the Castle]]'' by [[Dodie Smith]], Cassandra Mortmain owns a [[bull terrier]] named Helöise and a cat named Abelard.+
-* [[Mark Twain]]'s book, ''[[The Innocents Abroad]]'', tells a satirical version of the story of Abélard and Héloïse.+
-*[[Jean-Jacques Rousseau]]'s novel, ''[[Julie, ou la nouvelle Héloïse]]'', refers to the history of Heloise and [[Pierre Abélard]].+
-*[[Helen Waddell]]'s book, ''[[Peter Abelard]]'', depicts the romance between the two.+
-* The two central characters in the novel, ''[[The Romantic]]'' by [[Barbara Gowdy]] (Louise and Abélard), take their names from Héloïse and Abélard.+
-* ''Abaelards Liebe,'' a German language novel by [[Luise Rinser]], depicts the love story of Heloise and Abelard from the perspective of their son, Astrolabe.+
-*In the novel ''[[The Count of Monte Cristo]]'' by Alexander Dumas, whilst the Count is viewing the funeral of Valentine in The Cemetery of Pere-La-Chaise he notices young Morrel gliding amongst the yew-trees and "this shadow (Morrel's) passed rapidly behind the tomb of Abelard and Heliose."+
-*In two short stories, "[[The Lady Who Sailed The Soul]]" and "[[The Burning of the Brain]]", science-fiction author [[Cordwainer Smith]], refers to the lovers in passing.+
-*[[Marion Meade]]'s novel [[Stealing Heaven]] depicts the romance and adapted into a film.+
- +
-===In music===+
-*''[[Abelard and Heloise (album)|Abelard and Heloise]]'' is a 1970 soundtrack album by the British [[Third Ear Band]].+
-*The lyrics of "Abelard and Heloise", featured on [[Seventh Angel]]'s album ''[[The Dust of Years]]'', are based on the couple's famous correspondence.+
-*[[Flanders and Swann]]'s song "Friendly Duet" on the 1963 album ''[[At the Drop of Another Hat]]'', refers to Abelard and Heloise.+
-*The song "Heloise" by [[Frank Black]], from the album ''[[Devil's Workshop]]'', refers to this story.+
-*The [[Cole Porter]] song "[[Just One of Those Things (song)|Just One of Those Things]]", alludes to this story.+
-*The song "Nora", by [[Richard Shindell]], features a verse about Heloise and Abelard.+
-*The two protagonists in Spanish singer-songwriter [[Joaquín Sabina]]'s song, "[[Pájaros de Portugal]]", are named Abelardo and Eloísa (Abelard and Heloise in Spanish).+
-*The song "The World Without", by [[A Fine Frenzy]], refers to Heloise and "Pete" (Peter Abelard).+
-*Choral song "Labour of Love" by [[Stephen Hatfield]] refers to "the ship that could sail Abelard to Eloise."+
- +
-===In poetry===+
-* François Villon's "[[Ballade des Dames du Temps Jadis]]" ("Ballad of the Ladies of Times Past") mentions Héloïse and Abélard in the second stanza.+
-*Their story inspired the poem, "The Convent Threshold", by the Victorian English poet [[Christina Rossetti]].+
-*Their story inspired the poem, "[[Eloisa to Abelard]]", by the English poet [[Alexander Pope]].+
-*In [[Robert Lowell]]'s poetry collection [[Robert_Lowell#Poetry_collections|''History'' (1973)]], the poem "Eloise and Abelard" portrays the lovers after their separation.+
- +
-===Onstage and onscreen===+
-*''Abelard & Heloise'' was a 1971 Broadway production at the Brooks Atkinson Theatre, starring [[Diana Rigg]] and [[Keith Michell]]. It was directed by [[Robin Phillips]] and was first presented at The Ahmanson Theatre, The Music Center, Los Angeles, CA.+
-*In the film ''[[Being John Malkovich]]'', the character Craig Schwartz, a failed [[puppeteer]], stages a sidewalk puppet show depicting correspondence between Héloïse and Abélard.+
-*[[Howard Brenton]]'s play, ''[[In Extremis (play)|In Extremis: The Story of Abelard and Heloise]]'', premiered at [[Shakespeare's Globe]] in {{As of|2006|lc=on}}.+
-*In the ''Due South'' episode "Amen", the heroine and hero are Eloise and David Abelard.+
-*''[[Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind]]'' makes several references to the story of Abelard and Heloise in both script and plot.+
-*Multiple episodes of the [[HBO]] original series, ''[[The Sopranos]]'', refer to Abelard and Heloise. In 5.06 "[[Sentimental Education]]", [[Carmela Soprano]] leafs through [[List_of_characters_from_The_Sopranos_-_Friends_and_Family#Robert_Wegler|Robert Wegler's]] copy of ''[[The Letters of Abelard and Heloise]]'', and in 6.11 "[[Cold Stones]]", she reads about Abelard and Heloise in her Paris guidebook.+
-*In the movie ''[[The Lovely Bones (film)|The Lovely Bones]]'' Susie Salmon references the story of Abelard and Heloise, calling it the most tragic love story of all time.+
-*The film, ''[[Stealing Heaven]]'' (1988), chronicles their story and stars [[Derek de Lint]], [[Kim Thomson]], and [[Denholm Elliott]].+
-*Director and writer [[Norman Szabo]] created an animated feature called ''[[William Shakespeare's Abelard + Heloise]]'', which he claims is based upon an uncompleted Shakespearean manuscript, ''Abelard and Elois, a Tragedie''.+
- +
-===Other===+
-* [[Ehrenfeucht–Fraïssé game]]+
==See also== ==See also==
-*''[[Stealing Heaven]]''+*[[Antikythera mechanism]]
- +*[[Armillary sphere]]
 +*[[Astrarium]]
 +*[[Astronomical clock]]
 +*[[Cosmolabe]]
 +*[[Equatorium]]
 +*[[Islamic astronomy]]
 +*[[Orrery]]
 +*[[Philippe Danfrie]], designer and maker of [[mathematical instrument]]s, globes and astrolabes
 +*[[Planetarium]]
 +*[[Planisphere]]
 +*[[Prague Orloj]]
 +*[[Sextant (astronomical)]]
 +*[[Sharafeddin Tusi]], the inventor of the linear astrolabe
 +*[[Torquetum]]
 +*[[Canterbury Astrolabe Quadrant]]
 +*[[Hypatia]]
 +*[[Marshall Islands stick chart]]
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An astrolabe (Template:Lang-gr) is an elaborate inclinometer, historically used by astronomers, navigators, and astrologers. Its many uses include locating and predicting the positions of the Sun, Moon, planets, and stars, determining local time given local latitude and vice-versa, surveying, triangulation, and to cast horoscopes. It was used in classical antiquity, through the Islamic Golden Age, the European Middle Ages and Renaissance for all these purposes. In the Islamic world, it was also used to calculate the Qibla and to find the times for Salah, prayers.

There is often confusion between the astrolabe and the mariner's astrolabe. While the astrolabe could be useful for determining latitude on land, it was an awkward instrument for use on the heaving deck of a ship or in wind. The mariner's astrolabe was developed to address these issues.

See also


Unless indicated otherwise, the text in this article is either based on Wikipedia article "Astrolabe" or another language Wikipedia page thereof used under the terms of the GNU Free Documentation License; or on research by Jahsonic and friends. See Art and Popular Culture's copyright notice.

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