A Tale of a Magical Damascene Incense Burner and French Falsification
Indulge with me in contemplating this Arab masterpiece from the 13th century, which harbors a seed of technology that serves today’s astronauts, and no aircraft is devoid of it.
This copper incense burner was crafted in Damascus in the late 13th century. Its enchantment lies not only in its spherical exterior design, but also in the ingenious inner structure, which prevents the incense from falling, no matter how much the burner tilts or even if it topples and rolls. It is a mechanical device, anciently called by Arabs as “Junbul” and “Majwal”, used to maintain the stability and balance of objects by preventing the influence of the movement of the surrounding platform. Occasionally, the central body (the cup) is called “Majwal”, and it is then carried by the “Junbul” around it.
Inside the incense burner, there is a charcoal cup carried on three ringed “Junbuls”, arranged so that the cup remains steady and balanced with its opening upwards, perfectly level, no matter how the position of the spherical incense burner changes… This is precisely what happens in modern spacecraft, rockets, and planes. In the world of photography too, modern cameras are held on similar “Junbuls”, thus remaining stable and balanced regardless of their weight and the movement of the photographer.
This device shows that Arab scientists have been employing a technology similar to the modern “Junbul” since the Middle Ages to maintain the stability of the burning charcoal or incense inside the hanging incense burner. Nonetheless, it remains unclear (at least to me) which Arab scientist developed this technology or first documented it in scientific writings. But we can affirm that this device illustrates the ability of Arab scientists to develop innovative technologies in the field of mechanical engineering and its practical applications.
The earliest mention of Arabian “Junbul” technology is found in an Arabic manuscript from the 9th century (1). Because the name of the manuscript’s author and scribe has been lost, it was mistakenly thought that the manuscript was an Arabic translation of a mechanics manuscript by the Byzantine Philo Φίλων ὁ Βυζάντιος from the 3rd century BC. However, after reviewing all of Philo’s works and confirming their lack of description of this device, the British sinologist Joseph Needham confirmed that the manuscript was of Arabic origin and not a translation. He proved in 1965 that the invention of the Jubal is of Arab heritage dating back to the 9th century.
The forger, who falsely attributed an Arab invention to a Byzantine mechanic, is the French artist Villard de Honnecourt, who lived in the 13th century serving one of the branches of the Cambrai Cathedral. In our modern era, it has been revealed that Vélar’s manuscript contained many lies. Not only did he falsely attribute an Arab invention, but he also lied about being a successful architect — it turned out that he did not participate in the design or execution of any of the works he mentioned. He did not work in any profession, nor was he a traveler, as he claimed. Instead, he copied and collected from manuscripts found in church libraries. His entire book is a collection of disjointed papers, randomly assembled. Thus, the French National Library BnF calls it the “Vélar Draft” because it does not qualify as a book.
Ancient Arab seafarers, from the 9th century, used the Junbul technique to construct a special marine compass that remains level even when the ship tilts. This allows for the measurement of tilting and the accurate reading of directions, no matter how the waves rock the ship. The word for “Junbul” remained in English as “Gimbals” for the same mechanism, which is the term used today at the academic level. This technology transferred to the Europeans in the 16th century, and they called it the “Dry Compass”. As for the European navy …they did not adopt the “Junbul” or “Gimbals” compass until the 18th century. This technological delay resulted in many sea accidents and shipwrecks caused by the inability to accurately determine directions during storms and rough seas.
The circumference of the incense burner is adorned with Arabic inscriptions in the art of Hadra, declaring: “Glory to our Lord, the King, the Sovereign of the world, the Just, the Supported, the Victorious, the Triumphant, the Striver, the Encamped, the Challenging, the Warrior, the Pillar of Islam and the Muslims, the King of Kings and the Sultans, the Slayer of Infidels and Heretics.”
Today, the incense burner is kept in the storage of the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York, under the number 17.190.2095a, b, and is not on display. The museum received it as a gift in 1917 from an American hereditary billionaire named John Pierpont Morgan Jr., who worked as a banker. He was the CEO of his father's company, J.P. Morgan & Co., which continues to operate to this day.
The “Junbul” or “Gimbals” technology was not only limited to the field of navigation, but it also found a significant place in astronomy. Arab astronomers, such as Al-Battani and Al-Biruni, used it in the design of astronomical instruments to keep them stable and provide accurate readings, regardless of the movement of their surroundings.
Despite its ancient origins, “Junbul” technology remains indispensable in modern times. It has found its way into a variety of fields, including videography, where gimbals stabilizers help to capture smooth and stable footage, regardless of the photographer’s movements. In the aviation industry, gimbals are crucial in maintaining the balance and orientation of navigational instruments, ensuring accurate readings at all times.
In the realm of space exploration, the technology takes on even more importance. Spacecraft and satellites employ gimbals to adjust their orientation in space without affecting their trajectory, a function that is vital for the successful operation of space missions.
This tale of a 13th-century Damascene incense burner serves as a testament to the ingenuity of Arab scientists and their ability to develop technologies that have stood the test of time. Their inventions, such as the “Junbul” or “Gimbals”, have not only contributed to the advancement of civilization in the Middle Ages but continue to play a significant role in modern technological applications. The story also serves as a reminder of the importance of accurate historical attribution and the need to shed light on the contributions of Arab scientists in the field of mechanical engineering and beyond.
Sources:
1- Sarton, George (1959). A History of Science: Hellenistic Science and Culture in the Last Three centuries B.C. Cambridge: Harvard University Press. pp. 349–350.
2- Needham, Joseph. (1986). Science and Civilization in China: Volume 4, Physics and Physical Technology; Part 2, Mechanical Engineering. Taipei: Caves Books Ltd. p.236.
