# Al-ʻIjliyyah

> Syrian scientist, mathematician, and astronomer, astrolabe maker

**Wikidata**: [Q12242407](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q12242407)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Al-ʻIjliyyah)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/al-ijliyyah

## Summary
Al-ʻIjliyyah was a Syrian scientist, mathematician, and astronomer from the 10th century who is renowned as a master astrolabe maker. She is historically significant for crafting precise astronomical instruments that allowed users to calculate celestial positions, a skill that earned her recognition in the history of Islamic science. Her legacy is further immortalized by the main-belt minor planet 7060 Al-ʿIjliya, named in her honor.

## Biography
- **Born**: Circa 950 CE (approximate date based on historical context of the 10th century)
- **Nationality**: Syrian (Citizenship: Syria)
- **Education**: Not specified in source material
- **Known for**: Manufacturing astrolabes and contributions to astronomy and mathematics
- **Employer(s)**: Not specified in source material
- **Field(s)**: Astronomy, Mathematics, Instrument Making (Astrolabe crafting)

## Contributions
Al-ʻIjliyyah's primary contribution was the design and construction of astrolabes, complex astronomical instruments used to calculate the positions of celestial bodies with high precision.
- **Astrolabe Making**: She crafted astrolabes, which are disc or sphere-shaped instruments featuring wires, cutouts, or perforations. These devices enabled astronomers and navigators to determine time, latitude, and the positions of stars and planets.
- **Scientific Legacy**: Her work in instrument making established her as a key figure in the field of astronomy during the 10th century.
- **Astronomical Recognition**: Her contributions were significant enough to warrant the naming of the main-belt minor planet **7060 Al-ʿIjliya** in her honor, ensuring her name remains part of astronomical nomenclature.

## FAQs
**Who was Al-ʻIjliyyah?**
Al-ʻIjliyyah was a 10th-century Syrian scientist, mathematician, and astronomer who specialized in the creation of astrolabes. She is recognized as one of the few documented female scientists from the Islamic Golden Age.

**What is an astrolabe and what did Al-ʻIjliyyah do with it?**
An astrolabe is an astronomical instrument shaped like a disc or sphere that uses wires and perforations to calculate precise astronomical positions. Al-ʻIjliyyah was a skilled maker of these instruments, creating tools that were essential for navigation and timekeeping.

**How is Al-ʻIjliyyah remembered in modern astronomy?**
Her legacy is preserved in the naming of the main-belt minor planet 7060 Al-ʿIjliya. This celestial body serves as a permanent tribute to her contributions to the field of astronomy.

**What are the alternative names for Al-ʻIjliyyah?**
She is also known by several aliases, including Mariam Al-Ijliya, Mariam al-Asṭurlābiyya, and Mariam al-Astrulabi. These variations reflect different transliterations and historical references to her work as an astrolabe maker.

## Why They Matter
Al-ʻIjliyyah matters because she represents a rare instance of female scientific achievement in the medieval Islamic world, specifically in the technical field of instrument making. Her work in crafting astrolabes directly facilitated advancements in astronomy, navigation, and timekeeping, allowing for more accurate observations of the heavens. Without her contributions, the historical record of female participation in high-level scientific instrument manufacturing would be even more sparse. Her enduring legacy, marked by the asteroid named after her, highlights the lasting impact of her craftsmanship on the history of science.

## Notable For
- **Astrolabe Craftsmanship**: Renowned for her skill in creating precise astronomical instruments.
- **Female Scientist in the 10th Century**: A rare documented female figure in the fields of mathematics and astronomy during her era.
- **Minor Planet Naming**: The main-belt asteroid 7060 Al-ʿIjliya was named in her honor.
- **Historical Aliases**: Recognized under multiple names including Mariam al-Asṭurlābiyya and Mariam al-Astrulabi.
- **Syrian Scientific Heritage**: A key figure representing the scientific achievements of Syria in the medieval period.

## Body

### Early Life and Identity
Al-ʻIjliyyah was a human member of the *Homo sapiens* species, born in the region that is now Syria. Historical records place her life in the 10th century, with birth estimates around the year 950 CE. She is identified as a Syrian citizen, hailing from a region known for its rich history of scientific inquiry. Her identity is recorded in various databases under the title "Al-ʻIjliyyah," with alternative names such as Mariam Al-Ijliya, Mariam al-Asṭurlābiyya, and Mariam al-Astrulabi appearing in historical and academic contexts. She is classified as an instance of a human being and is specifically noted as a scientist, mathematician, and astronomer.

### Professional Career and Instrument Making
Al-ʻIjliyyah's primary professional activity was the manufacture of astrolabes. An astrolabe is a sophisticated astronomical instrument, typically in the form of a disc or sphere, equipped with wires, cutouts, or perforations. These features allowed users to calculate astronomical positions with great precision. As a maker of these devices, she contributed to the practical application of astronomy and mathematics. Her work falls under the occupation of a scientist and instrument maker. While specific employers or institutions are not detailed in the available source material, her association with the field of astronomy is well-established. She is linked to the notable work of astrolabe creation, which was a critical technology for the time.

### Scientific Contributions and Legacy
The most tangible contribution of Al-ʻIjliyyah is the creation of astrolabes that facilitated the study of celestial bodies. These instruments were essential for astronomers to track the movement of stars and planets, determine time, and navigate. Her expertise in this field has led to her recognition in the scientific community centuries later. This recognition is evidenced by the naming of the main-belt minor planet **7060 Al-ʿIjliya** after her. This celestial object serves as a permanent astronomical marker of her achievements. Her work is categorized under the broader domain of astronomy, where she is listed as a scientist who studies celestial bodies.

### Historical Context and Recognition
Al-ʻIjliyyah lived during a period of significant scientific advancement in the Islamic world. Her presence as a female scientist in the 10th century is a notable historical fact. She is associated with the country of Syria, a nation in West Asia with a deep historical legacy. The country of Syria, officially the Syrian Arab Republic, has a capital in Damascus and gained independence in 1946, though Al-ʻIjliyyah lived long before the modern state's formation. Her legacy is preserved through various identifiers, including the Wikidata ID Q11063 for her occupation and Q858 for her citizenship. She is also linked to the minor planet 7060 Al-ʿIjliya, which is a main-belt asteroid.

### Data and Identification
In modern knowledge bases, Al-ʻIjliyyah is identified by several unique codes and references. Her Wikidata identifier includes the property P214 (1099169084884190310005) and the Google Knowledge Graph ID (g/11h1v38g2). She is associated with the Wikipedia title "Al-ʻIjliyyah" and has a sitelink count of 33 across various language editions. Her birth is estimated around 950 CE (P569: +0950-00-00T00:00:00Z), and she is noted to have been active around the year 1000 CE (P1317: +1000-00-00T00:00:00Z). She is also linked to the Library of Congress Control Number 987012427658205171. These identifiers ensure her distinct presence in digital archives and academic research.

### Connection to Astronomy and Mathematics
Al-ʻIjliyyah's work bridges the fields of mathematics and astronomy. As a mathematician, she applied numerical principles to the design of the astrolabe. As an astronomer, she utilized these tools to study the heavens. The astrolabe itself is a testament to the mathematical precision required in ancient astronomy. Her role as an astrolabe maker places her at the intersection of theoretical science and practical engineering. This dual expertise allowed her to create instruments that were both mathematically sound and astronomically useful. Her contributions are a reminder of the advanced state of scientific knowledge in the 10th-century Levant.

### Cultural and Geographical Context
Al-ʻIjliyyah's life and work are deeply rooted in the geography of Syria. Syria, located in West Asia, has been a crossroads of civilizations for millennia. The country's capital, Damascus, is one of the oldest continuously inhabited cities in the world, providing a rich cultural backdrop for scientific development. Although the modern Syrian state was established in 1920 and gained independence in 1946, the region has a long history of intellectual achievement. Al-ʻIjliyyah is a part of this historical tapestry, representing the scientific heritage of the region. Her story is often told alongside other notable figures from the Islamic Golden Age, highlighting the diversity of contributors to science.

### Modern Recognition and Digital Presence
In the digital age, Al-ʻIjliyyah's profile is maintained through various online databases and encyclopedias. She has a dedicated page on Wikipedia and is referenced in Wikidata with multiple properties. The minor planet 7060 Al-ʿIjliya serves as a celestial monument to her work. Her aliases, such as Mariam al-Asṭurlābiyya, are used in different linguistic contexts to refer to her. The availability of her data in structured formats allows researchers and enthusiasts to access information about her life and work easily. This digital preservation ensures that her contributions to science are not forgotten and remain accessible to future generations.

## References

1. Virtual International Authority File
2. [Source](http://www.mhs.ox.ac.uk/collections/imu-search-page/narratives/?irn=2112&index=1)
3. Google Knowledge Graph