The Constellations in al-Ṣūfī’s Book of the Images of the Fixed Stars

  Constellations north of the zodiac
nr Arabic name translation IAU distinctive iconographical features
1 Ṣūrat al-Dubb al-aṣghar The Lesser Bear Ursa Minor  
2 Ṣūrat al-Dubb al-akbar The Larger Bear Ursa Major  
3 Ṣūrat al-Tinnīn The Dragon Draco  
4 Ṣūrat Qīqāʾūs [Kepheus] Cepheus often depicted with a conical hat (qalansuwah)
5 Ṣūrat al-ʿAwwāʾ The Howler Boötes often depicted with a raised sword
6 Ṣūrat al-Fakka The [Northern] Crown Corona Borealis  
7 Ṣūrat al-Jāthī ‘ala rukbatayhi The Kneeling Man Hercules often depicted with a scimitar
8 Ṣūrat al-Shulyāq The Lyre Lyra often depicted as a cup, urn or tortoise
9 Ṣūrat al-Dajāja The Fowl Cygnus  
10 Ṣūrat Dhāt al-kursī The Lady in a Chair Cassiopeia  
11 Ṣūrat Barsāʾūs wa huma ḥāmil raʾs al-ghūl The Bearer of the Demon's Head Perseus  
12 Ṣūrat Mumsik al-aʿinna He who Holds the Reins Auriga  
13 Sūrat al-Ḥawwā The Serpent Charmer Ophiuchus  
14 Ṣūrat Ḥayyat al-Ḥawwā The Snake of the Serpent Charmer Serpens  
15 Ṣūrat al-Sahm The Arrow Sagitta  
16 Ṣūrat al-ʿUqāb The Eagle Aquila  
17 Ṣūrat al-Dālfīn [Dolphin] Delphinus  
18 Ṣūrat Qiṭʿat al-Faras The Lesser Horse Equuleus  
19 Ṣūrat al-Faras al-aʿẓam The Larger Horse Pegasus  
20 Ṣūrat al-Marʾāh al-musalsalah The Chained Woman Andromeda sometimes depicted with chains on her feet
  Ṣūrat al-Faras al-kāmil The Complete Horse    
21 Ṣūrat al-Muthallath The Triangle Triangulum  
  The zodiacal constellations
nr Arabic name translation IAU distinctive iconographical features
22 Ṣūrat al-Ḥamal The Ram Aries  
23 Ṣūrat al-Thawr The Bull Taurus  
24 Ṣūrat al-Tawʾanīn The Twins Gemini often depicted as two nude female figures
25 Ṣūrat al-Saraṭān The Crab Cancer  
26 Ṣūrat al-Asad The Lion Leo  
27 Ṣūrat al-Sunbulah The Ear of Wheat Virgo often depicted with angel's wings and an ear of wheat
28 Ṣūrat al-Mīzān The Balance Libra  
29 Ṣūrat al-ʿAqrab The Scorpion Scorpius  
30 Ṣūrat Rāmī al-qawwās The Archer with the Bow Sagittarius  
31 Ṣūrat al-Jadī The Goat Capricornus always depicted with a coiled fish tail
32 Ṣūrat Sākib al-māʾ wa huwa al-dalw The Water Pourer with the Bucket Aquarius  
33 Ṣūrat al-Ḥūt The Fishes Pisces  
  Constellations south of the zodiac
nr Arabic name translation IAU distinctive iconographical features
34 Ṣūrat Qīṭus [Ketos] Cetus often depicted with a neck collar
35 Ṣūrat al-Jawzāʾ The Giant Orion often depicted with a long-sleeved arm and a sword
36 Ṣūrat al-Nahr The River Eridanus  
37 Ṣūrat al-Arnab The Hare Lepus  
38 Ṣūrat al-Kalb al-akbar The Larger Dog Canis Major  
39 Ṣūrat al-Kalb al-aṣghar The Lesser Dog Canis Minor  
40 Ṣūrat al-Safīnah The Ship [Argo Navis]  
41 Ṣūrat al-Shujāʿ The Large Snake Hydra  
42 Ṣūrat al-Bāṭiyah The Jar Crater  
43 Ṣūrat al-Ghurāb The Raven Corvus  
44 Ṣūrat al-Qīnṭūrus [Kentauros] Centaurus always depicted holding a multi-leaved stalk
45 Ṣūrat al-Sabʿ The Wild Beast Lupus  
46 Ṣūrat al-Mijmarah The Incense Burner Ara  
47 Ṣūrat al-Iklīl al-janūbī The Southern Crown Corona Australis  
48 Ṣūrat al-Ḥūt al-janūbī The Southern Fish Piscis Austrinus  

Images of selected constellations

Ṣūrat al-dubb al-aṣghar (Ursa Minor)
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Paris BNF Arabe 5036 Princeton UL Garrett 2259Y Washington LOC

 

Ṣūrat al-dubb al-akbār (Ursa Major)
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Paris BNF Arabe 5036 Princeton UL Garrett 2259Y Washington LOC

 

Ṣūrat al-dubb al-tinnīn (Draco)
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Paris BNF Arabe 5036 Princeton UL Garrett 2259Y Washington LOC