Al-Battani's Astrological History of the Prophet and the Early Caliphate

Abstract

This article presents the last major project that Edward S. Kennedy (1912-2009) worked on towards the end of his long and productive life. Finished by three "colleagues and former students", it gives a full edition with English translation of the astrological history of the Prophet and the early caliphate by al-Battānī (ca. 900), which is extant in a unique manuscript in Ankara. The commentary includes definitions of most relevant astrological concepts, analyses and recomputations of the 21 horoscopes given by al-Battānī, and a detailed discussion of his astrological interpretations.