Antique Qibla Indicator to provide direction to Makkah from circa 1580s
Above photos are of a antique Qibla finder, which is a mechansical device invested in cira 1580 to provide direction to Makkah Mukarma.
Prepared using Gold and Ivory, this beautoful intrument using compass and sundial to show the time and direction of prayer. It was designed to work at 41 degrees north which is the same latitude as Istanbul.
We can see it showing names of different major Islamic cities and shows Kaaba in the middle which is the religious centre of all Muslims.
Courtesy of Living with gods, peoples, places, and worlds beyond exhibition at British Museum London, which is on from 2 November 2017 – 8 April 2018.
