This is an old revision of the document!
Table of Contents
Babylonian Astronomy
Metrological Units
- Barleycorn (sze): Defined as 1/180 of a cubit (kusz3). Originally taken from weight metrology, where 180 sze = 1 gin2.
- GAR: This equals 1/60 of a degree.
- Finger (szu-szi): In the OB period, there are 30 fingers in a cubit, while in the NB period there were 24.
- Degree (usz): This is a fundamental unit of measurement in astronomy. There are 12 fingers in a degree. One degree also corresponds to 4 minutes rotation time.
- Cubit (kusz3): This is a fundamental unit in length metrology. In Babylonian astronomy, it is given as either 30 fingers (OB) or 24 (NB).
- Double hour (danna): This corresponds to 30 degrees, or 12 cubits. It also equals 2 hours, hence the name.
Other units used for modern convenience
- Hour: This is half of a double hour, or 15 degrees.
- Large hour: Twice of a double hour.
- Day: Equal to 24 hours.
Names of the months
Month | Logogram | Month Name |
---|---|---|
I | bar | Nisannu |
II | gu4 | Aiaru |
III | sig | Simanu |
IV | szu | Duzu |
V | izi | Abu |
VI | kin | Ululu |
VII | du6 | Taszritu |
VIII | apin | Arahsamna |
IX | gan | Kislimu |
X | ab | T,ebetu |
XI | ziz2 | Szabat,u |
XII | sze | Adaru |
In addition, two intercalary months were used as needed. One was placed after month six, and written kin-2-kam (denoted here VI2), and the other after month twelve, written dirig or dir-sze (denoted XII2).
Signs of the Zodiac
Modern Name | Cuneiform designation | Greek Symbol |
---|---|---|
Aries | hun | |
Taurus | mul2 | |
Gemini | masz | |
Cancer | kuszu2 | |
Leo | a | |
Virgo | absin | |
Libra | rin2 | |
Scorpius | gir2-tab | |
Sagittarius | pa | |
Capricorn | masz2 | |
Aquarius | gu | |
Pisces | zib |
Year notation
Years were denoted by whole numbers starting from…