A Princely Pandect on Astronomy

This book presents an English-language translation of Risl-yi Munya, or the Munya Epistle. Risl-yi Munya is one of the earliest known works of Nar al-Dn s (12011274), an intellectual luminary of the 13th century CE. The work is notable for the choice of Tuss native Persian as the language of the text. In addition, Tus organized his volume into a four-part structure, which went on to become a popular template for the Islamic astronomers who succeeded him. This book helped ensure the patronage of Tus's courtly patrons during his decades-long stay with the Ismals, as well as the continuation of his remarkable career under the first Ilkhanid rulers of Persia. This translation helps make this notable treatise accessible to English language readers. It is among a handful of English translations of major astronomical works dealing with haya/cosmography in the Islamic world. Subsequently Tus was to pen hisown commentary on the work (the all-i Mushkilt-i Munya, or A solution to the difficulties of the Munya) and he used this occasion to discuss his celebrated mathematical formulation the Tus Couple (a concept that he merely hinted at in the Risl-yi Munya).