A Comparative Study of Constellation Shapes and Decorative Imagery in Three Versions of Abd al-Rahman al-Sufi’s “Kitāb Suwar al-Kawākib”

Astrology, one of humanity’s oldest sciences, has a rich history of exploration Abolhassan Abdurrahman Sufi Razi Fasavi is a prominent Iranian mathematician and astronomer of the 4th century who lived in Fars during the Dilmian period. He authored the book “Sural al-Kawakb,” a corrected rendition of Ptolemy’s “al-Majsati,” which was rooted in his personal astronomical observations. The objective of this research is to identify the types of illustrated constellations, analyze the image structure and decorative images, and analyze their differences and commonalities in three illustrated versions of Abdur Rahman Sufi’s constellations, related to the 6th, 9th, and 12th centuries of the lunar calendar. The research questions are as followed :
1. What are the visual characteristics present in the three illustrated constellations versions that depict the shapes and symbols of the twelve zodiac signs?
2.What discrepancies and commonalities exist within the decorative forms of the illustrated constellations?
This research adopts a fundamental, descriptive-analytical approach with a comparative study framework. Data collection entails library research, direct observation of copies, and utilization of modern tools such as digital equipment, photography, and scanning.