Analysis of Kitap-al Mawalid miniatures

The aim of this dissertation study was to introduce Abu Ma'sher, one of the most important astrologist of the Islamic world, and to reveal one of his important works. Ebû Ma'ser is a scientist who had a great influence on the astrologists of the Renaissance. One of the objectives of the study is to preserve this legacy that Ebû Ma'ser left to the world of science, which was also addressed by Prof. Dr. Fuat Sezgin. Manuscripts are among the most significant resources that shed light on history. The Islamic world has a rather rich literary heritage in terms of manuscripts. Miniatures in manuscripts consist of illustrations explaining and supporting the text. The manuscript called "Kitap-al Mawalid" (Kitap al-Mawalid), the subject of this thesis, is also a miniature manuscript and its subject is astrology. The miniatures of work written by the famous Islamic astrologist Abu Ma'sher, who lived in the 8th and 9th century were analyzed in this study. "Kitap-al Mawalid" comprises two parts. There are thirty-six miniatures in total. The artist of the miniatures is Kanber Ali Shirazî. This copy, whose miniatures we analyzed in the present study, is located at BNF (French National Library). According to the library catalog record, this work was copied in Cairo in 1300. However, considering the clothing on the figures in miniatures, it is obvious that there is a problem with dating. The dissertation consists of an introduction and six chapters. The introductory part covers resource search and the purpose, scope, method and justifications of the dissertation. In the first chapter miniature art was addressed within the scope of a general evaluation. In the second chapter, manuscripts with miniatures from the beginning to the 15th century were analyzed to determine the artistic surrounding of the artist's period. In the third chapter, information was given in the field of astrology, being the subject of the manuscript. In the fourth chapter, after the introduction of the work "Kitap-al Mawalid", the life of Ebû Mâ'sher was addressed and miniaturist was examined. The fifth chapter is for the catalog study and the thirty-six miniatures were examined from the perspective of history of art. The sixth section is for the discussion of the study.