Copper Alloy inlaid with silver and copper 'Alam al-Din Qaysar 1225-6, Syria or Egypt Covered with 48 figures from constellations and 1025 stars graduated in size to convey relative magnitude, this splendid globe belonged to Sultan al-Malik al-Kamil (r. 1218-1238), nephew of Saladin, who conquored Jewusalem in 1187. In al-Kamil's hands, scientific instruments served as diplomatic tools. The exchange of beautiful and sophisticated works like this one provided a framework for friendship with the Holy Roman Emperor Frederick II (1194-1250). Though adversaries, they were able to forge a decade-long treaty that ensured shared access to Jerusalem.
aperture=f2.8 focal length: 90.0 mm exposure 1/100 sec ISO: 1600