Home : Book details : Book description

Description of  Astronomical Diaries and Related Texts from Babylonia: Volume VII. Almanacs and Normal Star Almanacs (Denkschriften Der Philosophisch-Historischen Klasse)

This volume contains an edition of clay tablets written during the time from the 3rd century BC to the 1st century AD. They list astronomical phenomena for a given year in chronological sequence, like a calendar. All data are calculated in advance. They are: first and last appearances of the moon and planets, with day number and zodiacal sign solstices and equinoxes and phenomena of Sirius. For the outer planets, stations and acronychal risings are given. Furthermore the entrances of planets into zodiacal signs are listed. In some of the tablets, the conjunctions of planets with fixed stars are predicted. The predictions were most likely done with the help of Goal-Year Texts, which were edited in volume VI. Read more