The possible solar eclipse mentioned in a text dating to the reign of Mursili II could be of great importance for the absolute chronology of the Hittite Empire within the chronology of the Ancient Near East. The text records that in the tenth year of Mursili's reign, "the Sun gave a sign" (istanus sakiyahta), just as the king was about to launch a campaign against the Kingdom of Azzi-Hayasa in north-eastern Anatolia.[1]
The eclipse of 1312 BCThe eclipse of 1308 BCThe eclipse of 1335 BCThe eclipse of 1340 BC
The reference in the annals was first interpreted as describing an eclipse by Emil Forrer (1926),[2] Schorr (1928) identified it as the eclipse of the 13 March 1335 BC, visible as annular in Anatolia in the afternoon.[3]
It is now more commonly identified as the one of 24 June 1312 BC, which was visible in totality in northern Anatolia in the afternoon.[4]Paul Åström (1993) proposes the alternative date of 13 April 1308 BC, which would have been visible as a partial eclipse at sunrise. Peter J. Huber has suggested a date of 8 January 1340 BC.[5]
The 1312 BC eclipse occurred over northern Anatolia in the early afternoon, and its effects would have been quite spectacular for Mursili and his men on campaign:
The 1312 BC date would imply that Mursili began his reign in either 1322 or 1321 BC. This date would be roughly that usually proposed for the death of Tutankhamun. It is known that Šuppiluliuma I was besieging Carchemish when he received a letter from the widow of a Pharaoh (who is called Dakhamunzu in the annals). Šuppiluliuma died shortly thereafter and his successor was Mursili II (whose brother would have been Prince Zannanza sent to Egypt where he died). Thus this appears to be a chronological anchor. However, there are other views, asserting for example that the dead Pharaoh was Akhenaten or that Tutankhamun died later.[6]
1308 BC eclipseedit
In contrast, the 1308 BC eclipse was annular, and began very early in the morning over Arabia (and only penumbral over Anatolia and Syria), reaching its height over Central Asia:
^KUB XIV 4.24: [ma-a-an I-NA KUR A]zi-ma i-ia-ah-at nudUTU-us sa-ki-ya-ah-ta "[When] I marched [to the land of A]zzi, the Sungod gave a sign." Theo P. J. Van Den Hout, The Purity of Kingship: An Edition of CTH 569 and Related Hittite Oracle Inquiries of Tutẖaliya (1998), 42f.
^E. Forrer, Forschungen II 1.1 "Astronomische Festlegung des Soppiluljomas, Morsilis und Amenophis IV." (1926) KUB XIV,4 (= CTH 70).
^Astronomische Abhandlungen 8-9 (1929), p. 16. Mitteilungen des Instituts für Orientforschung 6 (1958), 188.
^Huber, Peter J. (2001). "The Solar Omen of Muršili II". Journal of the American Oriental Society. 121 (4): 640–644. doi:10.2307/606505. JSTOR 606505.
^Gautschy, R. (2015). "Reassessment of Absolute Chronology of the Egyptian New Kingdom and its ´Brotherly´ Countries". Ägypten und Levante. 24: 151. doi:10.1553/s141. ISSN 1015-5104.
Further readingedit
Paul Astrom, 'The Omen of the Sun in the Tenth Year of the Reign of Mursilis II', in Horizons and Styles: Studies in Early Art and Archaeology in Honour of Professor Homer L. Thomas, (1993)
Trevor R. Bryce, The Kingdom of the Hittites, Clarendon Oxford University Press, (1998)
External linksedit
(NASA)
April 11, 2024
mursili, eclipse, possible, solar, eclipse, mentioned, text, dating, reign, mursili, could, great, importance, absolute, chronology, hittite, empire, within, chronology, ancient, near, east, text, records, that, tenth, year, mursili, reign, gave, sign, istanus. The possible solar eclipse mentioned in a text dating to the reign of Mursili II could be of great importance for the absolute chronology of the Hittite Empire within the chronology of the Ancient Near East The text records that in the tenth year of Mursili s reign the Sun gave a sign istanus sakiyahta just as the king was about to launch a campaign against the Kingdom of Azzi Hayasa in north eastern Anatolia 1 The eclipse of 1312 BCThe eclipse of 1308 BCThe eclipse of 1335 BCThe eclipse of 1340 BCThe reference in the annals was first interpreted as describing an eclipse by Emil Forrer 1926 2 Schorr 1928 identified it as the eclipse of the 13 March 1335 BC visible as annular in Anatolia in the afternoon 3 It is now more commonly identified as the one of 24 June 1312 BC which was visible in totality in northern Anatolia in the afternoon 4 Paul Astrom 1993 proposes the alternative date of 13 April 1308 BC which would have been visible as a partial eclipse at sunrise Peter J Huber has suggested a date of 8 January 1340 BC 5 Contents 1 1312 BC eclipse 2 1308 BC eclipse 3 See also 4 References 5 Further reading 6 External links1312 BC eclipse editThe 1312 BC eclipse occurred over northern Anatolia in the early afternoon and its effects would have been quite spectacular for Mursili and his men on campaign 24 June 1312 BC total eclipse maximum at 10 44 UTC 38 12 N 13 42 E 38 2 N 13 7 E 38 2 13 7 Sicily The 1312 BC date would imply that Mursili began his reign in either 1322 or 1321 BC This date would be roughly that usually proposed for the death of Tutankhamun It is known that Suppiluliuma I was besieging Carchemish when he received a letter from the widow of a Pharaoh who is called Dakhamunzu in the annals Suppiluliuma died shortly thereafter and his successor was Mursili II whose brother would have been Prince Zannanza sent to Egypt where he died Thus this appears to be a chronological anchor However there are other views asserting for example that the dead Pharaoh was Akhenaten or that Tutankhamun died later 6 1308 BC eclipse editIn contrast the 1308 BC eclipse was annular and began very early in the morning over Arabia and only penumbral over Anatolia and Syria reaching its height over Central Asia 13 April 1308 BC annular eclipse 94 8 maximum at 04 16 UTC 44 54 N 85 42 E 44 9 N 85 7 E 44 9 85 7 Tian Shan See also editList of solar eclipses visible from ChinaReferences edit KUB XIV 4 24 ma a an I NA KUR A zi ma i ia ah at nu dUTU us sa ki ya ah ta When I marched to the land of A zzi the Sungod gave a sign Theo P J Van Den Hout The Purity of Kingship An Edition of CTH 569 and Related Hittite Oracle Inquiries of Tutẖaliya 1998 42f E Forrer Forschungen II 1 1 Astronomische Festlegung des Soppiluljomas Morsilis und Amenophis IV 1926 KUB XIV 4 CTH 70 Astronomische Abhandlungen 8 9 1929 p 16 Mitteilungen des Instituts fur Orientforschung 6 1958 188 Bryce 1998 page needed Huber Peter J 2001 The Solar Omen of Mursili II Journal of the American Oriental Society 121 4 640 644 doi 10 2307 606505 JSTOR 606505 Gautschy R 2015 Reassessment of Absolute Chronology of the Egyptian New Kingdom and its Brotherly Countries Agypten und Levante 24 151 doi 10 1553 s141 ISSN 1015 5104 Further reading editPaul Astrom The Omen of the Sun in the Tenth Year of the Reign of Mursilis II in Horizons and Styles Studies in Early Art and Archaeology in Honour of Professor Homer L Thomas 1993 Trevor R Bryce The Kingdom of the Hittites Clarendon Oxford University Press 1998 External links editPath map NASA Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Mursili 27s eclipse amp oldid 1218057244, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
