The Babylonian astronomical diaries are a collection of Babyloniancuneiform texts that contain systematic records of astronomical observations and political events as well as predictions, based on astronomical observations. They also include other information such as commodity prices for particular dates and weather reports.[1][2]
An astronomical diary recording the death of Alexander the Great (British Museum)
The Babylonians were the first to recognise that astronomical phenomena are periodic and to apply mathematics to their predictions.[3] The oldest known significant astronomical text is Tablet 63 of the Enûma Anu Enlil collection, the Venus tablet of Ammisaduqa, which lists the first and the last visible risings of Venus over a period of about 21 years. It is the earliest evidence that planetary phenomena were recognised as periodic.
The systematic records of ominous phenomena in astronomical diaries began during the reign of Nabonassar (747–734 BC), when a significant increase in the quality and frequency of astronomical observations occurred. That allowed, for example, the discovery of a repeating 18-year Saros cycle of lunar eclipses.[4]
Translation
Translations of the Diaries are published in multivolume Astronomical Diaries and Related Texts from Babylonia, edited by Abraham Sachs and Hermann Hunger.[1][2][5]
Volume 1 – Diaries from 652 B.C. to 262 B.C. (ISBN3-7001-1227-0, 1988).
Volume 2 – Diaries from 261 B.C. to 165 B.C. (ISBN3-7001-1705-1, 1989).
Volume 3 – Diaries from 164 B.C. to 61 B.C. (ISBN3-7001-2578-X, 1996).
Volume 4 – not yet published.
Volume 5 – Lunar and Planetary Texts (ISBN3-7001-3028-7, 2001), contains lunar and planetary data from the 8th century BC to the 1st century BC.
Volume 6 – Goal Year Texts (ISBN978-3-7001-3727-6, 2006), contains lunar and planetary data, from the 3rd century BC to the 1st century BC.
Volume 7 – Almanacs and Normal Star Almanacs (ISBN978-3-7001-7627-5, 2014), contains astronomical almanacs, from the 3rd century BC to the 1st century AD.
References
^ abGeller, M. J. (1990). "Babylonian Astronomical Diaries and Corrections of Diodorus". Bulletin of the School of Oriental and African Studies, University of London. 53 (1): 1–7. doi:10.1017/s0041977x00021212. JSTOR 618964. S2CID 129703872.
^ abRochberg-Halton, F. (1991). "The Babylonian Astronomical Diaries". Journal of the American Oriental Society. 111 (2): 323–332. doi:10.2307/604022. JSTOR 604022.
^A. Aaboe; J. P. Britton; J. A. Henderson; Otto Neugebauer; A. J. Sachs (1991). "Saros Cycle Dates and Related Babylonian Astronomical Texts". Transactions of the American Philosophical Society. American Philosophical Society. 81 (6): 1–75. doi:10.2307/1006543. JSTOR 1006543. One comprises what we have called "Saros Cycle Texts," which give the months of eclipse possibilities arranged in consistent cycles of 223 months (or 18 years).
^Astronomical Diaries and Related Texts from Babylonia, Abraham Sachs and Hermann Hunger (eds.), Wien, Austrian Academy of Sciences.
External links
Astronomical Diaries: article at livius.org
Links to translations of Astronomical Diaries: for 333-63 B.C.
July 09, 2023
babylonian, astronomical, diaries, collection, babylonian, cuneiform, texts, that, contain, systematic, records, astronomical, observations, political, events, well, predictions, based, astronomical, observations, they, also, include, other, information, such,. The Babylonian astronomical diaries are a collection of Babylonian cuneiform texts that contain systematic records of astronomical observations and political events as well as predictions based on astronomical observations They also include other information such as commodity prices for particular dates and weather reports 1 2 An astronomical diary recording the death of Alexander the Great British Museum Currently they are stored in the British Museum It is suggested that the diaries were used as sources for the Babylonian Chronicles Contents 1 History 2 Translation 3 References 4 External linksHistory EditThe Babylonians were the first to recognise that astronomical phenomena are periodic and to apply mathematics to their predictions 3 The oldest known significant astronomical text is Tablet 63 of the Enuma Anu Enlil collection the Venus tablet of Ammisaduqa which lists the first and the last visible risings of Venus over a period of about 21 years It is the earliest evidence that planetary phenomena were recognised as periodic The systematic records of ominous phenomena in astronomical diaries began during the reign of Nabonassar 747 734 BC when a significant increase in the quality and frequency of astronomical observations occurred That allowed for example the discovery of a repeating 18 year Saros cycle of lunar eclipses 4 Translation EditTranslations of the Diaries are published in multivolume Astronomical Diaries and Related Texts from Babylonia edited by Abraham Sachs and Hermann Hunger 1 2 5 Volume 1 Diaries from 652 B C to 262 B C ISBN 3 7001 1227 0 1988 Volume 2 Diaries from 261 B C to 165 B C ISBN 3 7001 1705 1 1989 Volume 3 Diaries from 164 B C to 61 B C ISBN 3 7001 2578 X 1996 Volume 4 not yet published Volume 5 Lunar and Planetary Texts ISBN 3 7001 3028 7 2001 contains lunar and planetary data from the 8th century BC to the 1st century BC Volume 6 Goal Year Texts ISBN 978 3 7001 3727 6 2006 contains lunar and planetary data from the 3rd century BC to the 1st century BC Volume 7 Almanacs and Normal Star Almanacs ISBN 978 3 7001 7627 5 2014 contains astronomical almanacs from the 3rd century BC to the 1st century AD References Edit a b Geller M J 1990 Babylonian Astronomical Diaries and Corrections of Diodorus Bulletin of the School of Oriental and African Studies University of London 53 1 1 7 doi 10 1017 s0041977x00021212 JSTOR 618964 S2CID 129703872 a b Rochberg Halton F 1991 The Babylonian Astronomical Diaries Journal of the American Oriental Society 111 2 323 332 doi 10 2307 604022 JSTOR 604022 Steele John 2019 06 01 Explaining Babylonian Astronomy Isis 110 2 292 295 doi 10 1086 703532 ISSN 0021 1753 S2CID 181950933 A Aaboe J P Britton J A Henderson Otto Neugebauer A J Sachs 1991 Saros Cycle Dates and Related Babylonian Astronomical Texts Transactions of the American Philosophical Society American Philosophical Society 81 6 1 75 doi 10 2307 1006543 JSTOR 1006543 One comprises what we have called Saros Cycle Texts which give the months of eclipse possibilities arranged in consistent cycles of 223 months or 18 years Astronomical Diaries and Related Texts from Babylonia Abraham Sachs and Hermann Hunger eds Wien Austrian Academy of Sciences External links EditAstronomical Diaries article at livius org Links to translations of Astronomical Diaries for 333 63 B C Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Babylonian astronomical diaries amp oldid 1128499135, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
