Childbirth. Medieval illustration of a woman giving birth to a child. The woman (at lower centre) is being attended to by two midwives; two other maids are waiting at lower right and lower left. The father is waiting in a separate chamber at top centre. At upper right an astrologer is using a device for measuring stars (an astrolabe) to cast the child's horoscope. At upper left a scribe is writing down details of the birth. Illustration taken from an Arabic manuscript written by Al Harrizi in the 13th century.