Historical documents that possess not only cultural or literary value but also open doors to solving scientific puzzles. In this context, a new interpretation of a poet praising Saladin sheds light on clues related to celestial events, bringing them into daylight. Especially in recent studies, it is suggested that this poem was misdated for a long time and that it might actually refer to a mysterious event that illuminated the sky in 1181.
If this approach is correct, the verses dedicated to Saladin are not merely literary praise; they could also serve as valuable observational records for astronomers. Because there are very few records about this cosmic event in Medieval European and Middle Eastern sources. However, detailed descriptions exist in Chinese and Japanese archives about the “guest star” that suddenly appeared in the northern sky in 1181 and remained visible for months. Modern astronomers have long debated whether this event was a nova or a supernova. Recent structures discovered in the constellation Cassiopeia have increased the possibility that this event could have been a supernova.
The reinterpretation of the poem is based on an elaborate praise for Saladin by Ibn-i San’ül-Mülk. Sections such as “the brightness of the stars increasing with your justice” stand out, with the theme of “the birth of a new star” emerging as the main motif behind these lines. Initial interpretations tended to associate these words with a planetary conjunction believed to have occurred in 1186. The emphasis on “a comet” in a later added part of the work reinforced this interpretation. However, analysis conducted by J. G. Fischer and his team from Münster University suggests that the poem actually refers to one of Saladin’s returns from Egypt. One phrase from the poem stands out: in Arab tradition, the Cassiopeia constellation is described as a “ringed hand,” and the depiction of this hand “adorned with a new star” may indicate a brighter celestial event rather than an ordinary star.
Japanese records also support this interpretation: they describe the star as being as bright as Saturn. These details enable astronomers to produce more accurate calculations about the event. Information such as brightness and explosion type provides comparative data with the supernova of 1006 and offers important clues to understanding the universe’s expansion. While it remains unclear whether Ibn-i San’ül-Mülk truly referred to a star appearing in the sky or used it metaphorically about Saladin today, the details in the poem can be considered a new source that aligns with Chinese and Japanese archives. Such interdisciplinary readings demonstrate that texts can possess not only historical but also scientific value. Researchers argue that new clues emerging from the poem could contribute to a better understanding of the 1181 supernova.
