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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…
