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AD -164B (X201642)

Astronomical Diary, Hellenistic, Babylon · c. 330 BCE–141 BCE

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DesignationAD -164B
IDX201642
Museum no.BM 35015 + 35332 + 55531
LanguageAkkadian
PeriodHellenistic · c. 330 BCE–141 BCE
GenreAstronomical Diary
Find spotBabylon
Coordinates32.5434, 44.4222

English translation

By ORACC project adsd/adart2 · Via Open Richly Annotated Cuneiform Corpus (ORACC) · CC BY-SA 3.0 (ORACC)

LineEnglish
Obverse [1:2] o B2'B2'–o B2'B2'[...] ... the south wind blew. The 6th, clouds were in the sky ... [...]
Obverse [2:3] o B3'B3'–o B3'B3'[... cl]ouds were in the sky, the south wind blew. Night of the 11th, last part of the night, clouds were in the sky, the south wind bl[ew ...]
Obverse [3:4] o B4'B4'–o B4'B4'[...] measured (despite) mist; beginning of the night, clouds were in the sky, the south wind blew; beginning of the night, the moon [...]
Obverse [4:5] o B5'B5'–o B5'B5'[... clouds] were in the sky. Night of the 14th, sunset to moonrise: 30'; beginning of the night,the moon was 2 1/2 cubits in front of η Tauri [...]
Obverse [5:8] o B6'B6'–o C2'C2'[... clouds] were in the sky; in the afternoon, very overcast, the south wind blew; sunset to setting of Saturn: 16°. Night of the 17th, clouds cr[ossed?] the sky, the north wind blew?; last part of the night, the moon was 1 cubit below η Geminorum ... [...]
Obverse [8:9] o C3'C3'–o C3'C3'[... the m]oon? was 2 cubits in front? of α ? Geminorum?, the moon being 5 1/2 cubits [low] to the south [...]
Obverse [9:11] o B7'B7'–o C4'C4'[... Night of the 19th,] clouds were in the sky, the south wind blew; last part of the night, the moon was 1 cubit behind β Geminorum, the moon being 5 cubits low to the south. The 19th, clouds were in the sky, the south wind blew; in the afternoon, very overcast. Night of the 20th, clouds were in the sky; last part of the night, very overcast ... [...]
Obverse [11:13] o B8'B8'–o C5'C5'[...] ... very overcast?, a little rain shower, the south wind blew. Around the 20th, Saturn’s last appearance in Scorpius. Night of the 21st, last part of the night, the moon was 6 1/2 cubits below ε Leonis, the moon having passed 1/2 cubit to the east; last part of the night, Venus was [2/3 cubit] below γ Virginis, [Venus being 2 ...]
Obverse [13:16] o B9'B9'–o C7'C7'[...] the south wind blew. The 22nd, Mercury’s first appearance in the east in Libra; it was bright (and) high, rising of Mercury to sunrise: 15°; (ideal) first appearance on the 20th; the north wind blew, all day clouds were in the sky. Night of the 23rd, last part of the night, the moon was 7? [cubits] below ϑ Leonis [...]
Obverse [16:17] o B10'B10'–o B10'B10'[... the south wind blew. Night of the 24th, clouds were in the sky;] last part of the night, the moon was 1 cubit behind β Virginis, the moon being 2 cubits low to the south. Night of the 2[5th, clouds] were in [the sky;] very overcast; last part of the night, clouds were in the sky; the moon was 1 cubit behind γ Virginis, the moon being 2 cubits low to the south, [...] below Venus [...]
Obverse [17:18] o C8'C8'–o C8'C8'[...] cubits, the moon being 1/2 cubit back to the west [...] ... Night of the 25th, clouds [...]
Obverse [18:19] o B11'B11'–o B11'B11'[...] ... The 26th, sunset to setting of Jupiter: 11°; very overcast, the north wind blew. Night of the 27th, very overcast; last part of the night, the moon was 2 1/2 cubits in front of α Librae, 2 1/2 cubits below Mercury, the moon being 1/2 cubit back to the west. The 20+[xth, ...]
Obverse [19:20] o C9'C9'–o C9'C9'[...] last part of the night, the moon was behind? [...] low to the south; Mercury was below? ... [...] +1/2 cubits [...]
Obverse [20:22] o B12'B12'–o C10'C10'[...] solar [eclipse] which was omitted; at 1.4° after sunset. The 29th, very overcast. Night of the 30th, very overcast. The 30th, Jupiter’s last appearance in Scorpius; very overcast. That month, the equivalent was: barley, in the beginning of the month, 1 kurru [...]
Obverse [22:24] o B13'B13'–o C11'C11'[... at the end of the month, 2 kurru 3 sūtu 1/2 qa ...] 1 kurru 5 sūtu; mustard, 4 kurru; cress, 1 pānu 1 sūtu; sesame, 1 pānu 3 qa, at the end of the month, 1 pānu 1 sūtu; wool, 4 minas were sold for 1 shekel of silver [...]
Obverse [24:26] o B14'B14'–o C12'C12'[... Ju]piter’s last appearance in Scorpius; Venus, in the beginning of the mon[th, was in ... until the end of the month, in Lib]ra; around the 20th, Mercury’s first appearance in the east in Libra; Mars was in Sagittarius. That month the river level until the 20th receded 4 fingers, 32 was the na na-gauge; from the 21st [to ...]
Obverse [26:27] o B15'B15'–o B15'B15'[...] ... of Habigalbat which is called ...armil? ... [...]
Obverse [27:28] o C13'C13'–o C13'C13'[...] as follows: king Antiochus [...] from the cities of [...]
Obverse [28:30] o C14'C14'–o B16'B16'[...] which went above ...
Obverse [29:31] o B16'B16'–o C15'C15'[Month VIII, ...] measured; it could be seen while (the sun) stood there; all night clouds were in the sky; last part of the night, Mercury was 1 cubit above α Librae. The 1st, all day clouds crossed the sky, rain [...]
Obverse [31:33] o B17'B17'–o C16'C16'[... last part] of the night, Venus was 1 1/2 cubits above α Virginis. The 3rd, all day very overcast, the north wind blew. Night of the 4th, beginning of the night, the moo[n ...]
Obverse [33:35] o B18'B18'–o C17'C17'[...] 3 cubits ... The 5th, very overcast. Night of the 6th (and) the 6th, very overcast. Night of the 7th (and) the 7th, very overcast. ??? the 8th, very overcast [...]
Obverse [35:36] o B19'B19'–o B19'B19'[...] surrounded by a halo, it billowed very much. Night [...]
Obverse [36:38] o C18'C18'–o B20'B20'[...] ... very overcast. The 9th, all day very overcast, the north wind blew; the sun was surrounded by 2 halos [...]
Obverse [38:39] o C19'C19'–o C19'C19'[... Night] of the 12th, beginning of the night, very overcast, rain shower. The 12th, moonset to sunrise: 12°; clouds [...] the sky [...]
Obverse [39:40] o C20'C20'–o C20'C20'[...] 2 cubits [...] η? Geminorum. The 14th, very overcast, the north wind blew [...]
Obverse [40:41] o C21'C21'–o C21'C21'[...] 2 cubits below β Capricorni; last part of the night, the moon was below [...]
Obverse [41:42] o C22'C22'–o C22'C22'[...] clouds were in the sky, the south wind blew. Night of the 10+[xth, ...]
Obverse [42:43] o C23'C23'–o C23'C23'[...] low; clouds were in the sky, the south wind [...]
Obverse [43:45] o C24'C24'–[...cu]bits ..., the moon? being 4 cu[bits ...]
Reverse [1:2] r B2'B2'–r B2'B2'[...] 1 cubit ... [...] 1 shekel ... [...]
Reverse [2:3] r B3'B3'–r B3'B3'[... beg]inning of the night, the moon was 1 cubit behind β Virginis, the m[oon being x]+1/2 cubits [high?] to the north? [...]
Reverse [3:4] r B4'B4'–r B4'B4'[... cu]bits, the moon having passed 1/2 cubit to the east; all night very overcast, the south and east wind blew [...]
Reverse [4:5] r B5'B5'–r B5'B5'[... clou]ds crossed the sky, rain DUL, the north wind blew; in the afternoon, overcast. Around the 16th, [...]
Reverse [5:6] r B6'B6'–r B6'B6'[... Night of the 18th, last part of the night, the moon was] 2 1/2 cubits in front of β Scorpii, the moon being 1 cubit high to the north. Around the 18th, Mars’ [last appearance] in [Aries ...]
Reverse [6:7] r B7'B7'–r B7'B7'[...] having passed ⸢x⸣ cubits to the east; very overcast. The 19th, in the morning, very overcast, rain shower, the south wind blew; all day clouds crossed the sky, the south [wind ...]
Reverse [7:8] r B8'B8'–r B8'B8'[...] ... 8 fingers [...] Saturn, the moon having passed 8 fingers to the east. The 20th, very overcast, rain shower, the south and east winds blew. Night of the 21st, the north wind [...]
Reverse [8:9] r B9'B9'–r B9'B9'[...] ... very overcast ... Night of the 22nd, very overcast; beginning of the night, rain shower, the south wind blew. The 22nd, very overcast, the south and west winds blew [...]
Reverse [9:10] r B10'B10'–r B10'B10'[...] until the 23rd, when Saturn become stationary to the east, it became stationary 1 cubit 4 fingers behind ϑ Ophiuchi, 1 cubit high to the north [...]
Reverse [10:11] r B11'B11'–r B11'B11'[...] ...; last part of the night, the moon was [...] above δ Capri[corni ...]
Reverse [11:12] r B12'B12'–r B12'B12'[...] Night of the 27th?, the north wind? blew? [...] ... very overcast, a little rain shower [...]
Reverse [12:13] r B13'B13'–r B13'B13'[...] all night the north wind blew. The 28th, moonrise to sunrise: 10° 20'?; ... [...]
Reverse [13:14] r B14'B14'–r B14'B14'[...] at 15° after sunrise. Night of the 30th, the south wind blew; last part of the night, ... [...]
Reverse [14:15] r B15'B15'–r B15'B15'[...] the 25th (and) the 26th, the sale of barley was cut off; the 27th, ... [...]
Reverse [15:16] r B16'B16'–r B16'B16'[...] ... at the end of the month, 1 pānu 4 qa; sesame, 1 pānu 1 sūtu; w[ool, ...]
Reverse [16:17] r B17'B17'–r B17'B17'[...] The 6th?, Mercury’s last appearance in the east? in ...; Saturn [...]

Transliteration (ATF)

From Open Richly Annotated Cuneiform Corpus (ORACC) · CC BY-SA 3.0 (ORACC default); per-file JSON license fields say: This data is released under the CC0 license (133618)

LineATFMachine English (draft)
o
B1'[...] ⸢x x x x x x⸣ [...]
B2'[...] ⸢x⸣ ULU₃ GIN 6 DIR AN ZA ⸢x⸣ [...]
B3'[...] ⸢DIR⸣ AN ZA ULU₃ GIN GE₆ 11 ina ZALAG₂ DIR AN ZA ULU₃ ⸢GIN⸣ [...]
B4'[...] a-kam₂ muš SAG GE₆ DIR AN ZA ULU₃ GIN SAG GE₆ sin [...]
B5'[... DIR] AN ZA GE₆ 14 30 NINDA GE₆ SAG GE₆ sin ina IGI MUL₂.MUL₂ 2 1/2 ⸢KUŠ₃⸣ [...]
B6'[... DIR] AN ZA ina KIN.SIG ŠU₂.ŠU₂ ULU₃ GIN 16 na GENNA GE₆ 17 DIR AN ⸢DIB SI GIN ina ZALAG₂ sin SIG⸣ MUL₂-IGI-ša₂-še-pit₂-MAŠ.MAŠ 1 ⸢KUŠ₃ x⸣ [...]
C1'[...] ⸢x⸣ [...]
C2'[...] ⸢DIR⸣ [AN] ZA ina KIN.⸢SIG⸣ [...]
C3'[...] ⸢sin⸣ ina IGI MAŠ.MAŠ-IGI 2 KUŠ₃ sin 5 1/2 KUŠ₃ ana ULU₃ [SIG ...]
B7'[... GE₆ 19 DIR AN ZA ULU₃ GIN ina ZALAG₂ sin ar₂ MAŠ.MAŠ-ar₂ 1 KUŠ₃ sin 5 KUŠ₃ ana ULU₃ SIG 19 DIR AN ZA ULU₃ GIN ina KIN.SIG ŠU₂.ŠU₂ GE₆ 20 DIR AN ZA ina ZALAG₂ ŠU₂.ŠU₂ ⸢x⸣ [...]
C4'[... ina] ⸢KIN⸣.SIG ⸢ŠU₂.ŠU₂⸣ GE₆ 20 DIR AN ZA ina ZALAG₂ ŠU₂.ŠU₂ ⸢x⸣ [...]
B8'[...] ⸢x x⸣ ŠU₂.ŠU₂ AN UTAH i-ṣa ULU₃ GIN in 20 GENNA ina GIR₂.TAB ŠU₂ GE₆ 21 ina ZALAG₂ sin SIG SAG-A 6 1/2 KUŠ₃ sin 1/2 KUŠ₃ ana NIM DIB ina ZALAG₂ dele-bat SIG DELE-ša₂-IGI-⸢ABSIN⸣ 2/3 KUŠ₃ dele-bat 2 ...]
C5'[...] SAG-A 6 1/2 ⸢KUŠ₃⸣ sin 1/2 KUŠ₃ ana NIM DIB ina ZALAG₂ dele-bat ⸢SIG⸣ [...]
B9'[...] ULU₃ ⸢GIN⸣ 22 GU₄.UD ina NIM ina RIN₂ IGI KUR NIM-a 15 na-su in 20 IGI SI GIN kal ME DIR AN ZA GE₆ 23 ina ZALAG₂ sin SIG GIŠ.⸢KUN⸣-A 7 [KUŠ₃ ...]
C6'[...] ⸢GU₄.UD ina⸣ NIM <ina> A IGI 15 na-su in 20 IGI SI GIN ⸢kal⸣ [ME ...]
C7'[...] ULU₃ GIN GE₆ 24 ⸢DIR⸣ AN ZA ina ZALAG₂ sin ar₂ GIR₃-⸢ar₂⸣-[ša₂-A N N ...]
B10'[...] ina ZALAG₂ sin ar₂ GIR₃-ar₂-ša₂-A 1 KUŠ₃ sin 2 KUŠ₃ ana ULU₃ SIG GE₆ 25 [DIR AN] ZA ŠU₂.ŠU₂ ina ZALAG₂ DIR AN ZA sin ar₂ DELE-ša₂-IGI-ABSIN 1 KUŠ₃ sin 2 KUŠ₃ ana ULU₃ SIG SIG dele-bat [N N ...]
C8'[...] KUŠ₃ sin 1/2 KUŠ₃ ana ŠU₂ LAL [x x x] GE₆ 25 ⸢DIR⸣ [...]
B11'[...] ⸢x⸣ 26 11 na MUL₂.BABBAR ŠU₂.ŠU₂ SI GIN GE₆ 27 ŠU₂.ŠU₂ ina ZALAG₂ sin ina IGI RIN₂-ša₂-ULU₃ 2 1/2 KUŠ₃ SIG GU₄.UD 2 1/2 KUŠ₃ sin 1/2 KUŠ₃ ana ŠU₂ LAL 20+[x ...]
C9'[... ina] ⸢ZALAG₂⸣ sin ar₂ [...] ana ⸢ULU₃⸣ SIG GU₄.UD SIG ⸢x⸣ [x x]+1/2 KUŠ₃ [...]
B12'[... AN.KU₁₀] šamaš₂ ša₂ DIB in 1.4 GE₆ GIN 29 ŠU₂.ŠU₂ GE₆ 30 ŠU₂.ŠU₂ 30 MUL₂.BABBAR ina GIR₂.TAB ŠU₂ ŠU₂.ŠU₂ ITU BI KI.LAM še-im ina SAG ITU 1(GUR) GUR [...]
C10'[...] 4 GE₆ GIN 29 [...] ⸢x⸣ 30 MUL₂.BABBAR ina GIR₂.TAB ŠU₂ ŠU₂.ŠU₂ ⸢ITU⸣ [BI ...]
B13'[...] 1(GUR) GUR 5(BAN₂) kas₃ 4(GUR) GUR sah-le₁₀ 1(BARIG) 1(BAN₂) ŠE.GIŠ.I₃ 1 PI 3 qa ina TIL ITU 1(BARIG) 1(BAN₂) SIG₂{hi.a} 4 MA.NA a-na 1 GIN₂ KU₃.BABBAR ep₂-[šu₂ ...]
C11'[...] ina TIL ITU 2(GUR) GUR 3(BAN₂) 1/2 ⸢qa⸣ [...] 1(BARIG) 1(BAN₂) ŠE.GIŠ.I₃ 1 PI 3 ⸢qa⸣ [...]
B14'[...] ⸢x⸣ EN TIL ITU ina RIN₂ in 20 GU₄.UD ina NIM ina RIN₂ IGI AN ina PA ITU BI ILLU EN 20 4 SI LAL 32 na TA 21 [EN ...]
C12'[... MUL₂].BABBAR ina GIR₂.TAB ŠU₂ dele-bat ina SAG ⸢ITU⸣ [ina ... ina] ⸢RIN₂⸣ in 20 GU₄.UD ina ⸢NIM⸣ [...]
B15'[...] ⸢URU⸣{meš} ša₂ {uru}ha-bi-gal-bat ša₂ KUR ar-mi-il MU-šu₂ SA₄-u₂ ⸢x x x x⸣ [...]
C13'[... ITU BI al-te-me] um-ma {m}an-ti-ʾu-uk-su ⸢LUGAL⸣ [u {lu₂}ERIN₂{meš}šu₂] TA URU{meš} ⸢ša₂⸣ {[uru}ha-bi-gal-bat ša₂ KUR ar-mi-il MU-šu₂ SA₄-u₂ E₃{meš]}
C14'[...] ša₂ UGU ma-rat GIN{meš}
B16'[APIN ...] muš ina GUB ⸢IGI⸣ kal GE₆ DIR AN ZA ina ZALAG₂ ⸢GU₄⸣.UD e RIN₂-ša₂-ULU₃ 1 KUŠ₃ 1 kal ME DIR [...]
C15'[...] GU₄.UD e RIN₂-ša₂-ULU₃ 1 KUŠ₃ 1 kal ME ⸢DIR AN DIB⸣ AN [...]
B17'[... ina] ⸢ZALAG₂⸣ dele-bat e SA₄-ša₂-⸢ABSIN⸣ 1 1/2 KUŠ₃ 3 kal ME ŠU₂.ŠU₂ SI GIN GE₆ 4 [...]
C16'[...] ABSIN 1 1/2 KUŠ₃ 3 kal ME ŠU₂.ŠU₂ SI GIN GE₆ 4 SAG GE₆ ⸢sin⸣ [...]
B18'[...] ⸢ŠU₂⸣.ŠU₂ GE₆ 6 6 ŠU₂.ŠU₂ ⸢GE₆⸣ 7 7 ŠU₂.ŠU₂ GE₆ 8 ŠU₂.ŠU₂ [...]
C17'[...] ša₂ SI 3 KUŠ₃ 5 ŠU₂.ŠU₂ GE₆ 6 6 ŠU₂.ŠU₂ GE₆ 7 7 ŠU₂.[ŠU₂ ...]
B19'[...] TUR₃ NIGIN ma-diš ⸢iq-tur₇ GE₆⸣ [...]
C18'[...] ⸢x⸣ ŠU₂.ŠU₂ 9 kal ME ŠU₂.ŠU₂ SI GIN šamaš₂ 2 TUR₃{meš} NIGIN [...]
B20'[...] ⸢x x⸣ [...]
C19'[... GE₆] 12 SAG GE₆ ŠU₂.ŠU₂ AN UTAH 12 12 ŠU₂ DIR AN [...]
C20'[...] ⸢IGI⸣ ša₂-še-pit₂-MAŠ.MAŠ 2 KUŠ₃ 14 ŠU₂.ŠU₂ SI GIN [...]
C21'[...] SIG SI-MAŠ₂ 2 KUŠ₃ ina ZALAG₂ sin SIG [...]
C22'[...] DIR AN ZA ULU₃ GIN GE₆ 10+[x ...]
C23'[...] ⸢SIG⸣ DIR AN ZA ⸢ULU₃⸣ [...]
C24'[...] ⸢KUŠ₃ x⸣ sin 4 ⸢KUŠ₃⸣ [...]
r
B1'[...] ⸢x⸣ [...]
B2'[...] 1 KUŠ₃ ⸢x⸣ [...] 1 GIN₂ ⸢x⸣ [...]
B3'[...] ⸢SAG⸣ GE₆ sin ar₂ GIR₃-⸢ar₂⸣-[ša₂]-A 1 KUŠ₃ ⸢sin⸣ [x]+1/2 KUŠ₃ ana SI [NIM ...]
B4'[...] ⸢KUŠ₃⸣ sin 1/2 KUŠ₃ ana NIM DIB ⸢kal⸣ GE₆ ŠU₂.ŠU₂ ULU₃ u KUR GIN{meš} [...]
B5'[...] ⸢DIR⸣ AN DIB AN DUL-hat SI GIN ina KIN.SIG ŠU₂ in 16 [...]
B6'[... GE₆ 18 ina ZALAG₂ sin] ina IGI MUL₂-e-ša₂-⸢SAG⸣-GIR₂.TAB 2 1/2 KUŠ₃ sin 1 KUŠ₃ ana SI NIM in 18 AN ina [HUN ŠU₂ ...]
B7'[...] ⸢x⸣ KUŠ₃ ana NIM DIB ŠU₂.ŠU₂ 19 ina še-ri₃ ŠU₂.ŠU₂ AN UTAH ULU₃ ⸢GIN⸣ kal ME DIR AN DIB ⸢ULU₃⸣ [...]
B8'[...] ⸢x x⸣ [x x] GENNA 8 U sin 8 U ana ⸢NIM⸣ DIB 20 ŠU₂.ŠU₂ AN UTAH ULU₃ u KUR GIN{meš} GE₆ 21 SI [...]
B9'[...] ⸢x⸣ ŠU₂.ŠU₂ x x GE₆ 22 ŠU₂.ŠU₂ SAG GE₆ AN UTAH ULU₃ GIN 22 ŠU₂.ŠU₂ ULU₃ u MAR GIN{⸢meš⸣} [...]
B10'[...] EN 23 ⸢GENNA⸣ ana NIM ki UŠ-u₂ 1 KUŠ₃ 4 U ar₂ KIR₄-šil-PA 1 KUŠ₃ ana ⸢SI⸣ NIM ⸢UŠ⸣ [...]
B11'[...] x PA U x x x x NE ina ZALAG₂ sin e MUL₂-ar₂-ša₂-[SUHUR-MAŠ₂ ...]
B12'[...] GE₆ 27 SI GIN [x x x] x NI ŠU₂.ŠU₂ AN UTAH i-ṣa [...]
B13'[...] kal GE₆ SI GIN 28 10.20 KUR A MUL₂ ⸢TUR⸣ [...]
B14'[...] in 15 ME NIM-a GE₆ 30 ULU₃ GIN ina ZALAG₂ ⸢x⸣ [...]
B15'[...] 25 26 KI.LAM še-im TAR-as 27 ⸢x⸣ [...]
B16'[...] ⸢x⸣ ina TIL ITU 1 PI 4 qa ŠE.GIŠ.I₃ 1(BARIG) 1(BAN₂) ⸢SIG₂⸣ [...]
B17'[...] 6 GU₄.UD ina NIM ina x x⸣ ŠU₂ GENNA [...]

Sources & licences

Cite the original edition and translator. Page generated by Unread Atlas from the public corpus export of 2026-10-11.