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AD -178C (X201783)

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

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DesignationAD -178C
IDX201783
Museum no.BM 34591 + 55532
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 [0:1] o 1o 1–o 1o 1Year 133, king Seleucus, [month XI, ...]
Obverse [1:2] o 22–o 22Night of the 2nd, clouds crossed the sky, slow rain, PISAN DIB. The 2nd, in [...]
Obverse [2:3] o 33–o 33in the afternoon, clouds were in the sky. Night of the 4th, the moon was [nn cubits] behind [α Arietis, the moon being 6 cubits] low [to the south]. The 4th, in the af[ternoon, clouds ... the sky. Night of the 5th, (beginning of the night,)]
Obverse [3:4] o 44–o 44the moon was 1 cubit in front of η Tauri, the moon being 4 cubits [low] to the south. [The 5th, clouds were in] the sky. Night of the 6th, clouds were in the sky. The 6th, clouds were in the sky. Night of the 7th, beginning of the night,
Obverse [4:5] o 55–o 55clouds were in the sky; the moon was 1 1/2? [cubits] below ζ Tauri, [the moon being nn] cubits back to the west, it stood 1 cubit behind Saturn to the east, the moon being 1 1/2 cubits low to the south;
Obverse [5:6] o 66–o 66last part of the night, thin clouds were in the sky. The 7th, in the morning, thin clouds [were in the sky; in the af]ternoon, clouds were in the sky, the south wind blew. Night of the 8th, very overcast. The 8th, in the morning, clouds crossed the sky, the south wind blew;
Obverse [6:7] o 77–o 77all day clouds were in the sky. Night of the 9th, be[ginning of the night, clou]ds were in the sky; the moon was 4 cubits below β Geminorum, the moon being 1/2 cubit back to the west. The 9th, clouds were in the sky;
Obverse [7:8] o 88–o 88the south wind blew. Night of the 10th, [beginning of the night, the moon was] 1/2 cubit in front of δ Cancri; last part of the night, clouds were in the sky. The 10th, all day very overcast, the east wind blew. Night of the 11th, very overcast.
Obverse [8:9] o 99–o 99[... The 11th,] clouds crossed the sky; Mercury’s last appearance in the west in P[isces?]; I did not watch; all day clouds were in the sky, the east wind blew. Night of the 12th, the moon was 3 cubits behind α Leonis.
Obverse [9:10] o 1010–o 1010[The 12th, moonset to sunrise: nn°,] measured (despite) [cl]ouds; the north wind blew. Night of the 13th, moonrise to sunset: 9°; first part of the night, the moon was ⸢2 1/2?⸣ cubits in front of β Virginis, the moon being 1/2 cubit high to the north. The 13th,
Obverse [10:11] o 1111–o 1111[sunrise to moonset: nn°,] measured (despite) [cl]ouds; the east wind blew, all day clouds were in the sky, [...] blew?. Night of the 14th, sunset to moonrise: 7°, measured (despite) mist; last part of the night, Mars was 2 1/2 cubits above α Scorpii;
Obverse [11:12] o 1212–o 1212[the moon was] 1/2 cubit behind γ Virginis. The 14th, ... [...] clouds were in the sky. Night of the 15th, last part of the night, the moon was 2 1/2 cubits above α Virginis,
Obverse [12:13] o 1313–o 1313[the moon] having passed [...] to the east. The 15th, clouds were in the sky. [Night] of the 16th, last part [of the night, the moo]n stood 1 cubit behind Jupiter to the east, the moon being 1/2 cubit high to the north; clouds were in the sky.
Obverse [13:14] o 1414–o 1414[The nnth, clouds] crossed the sky, a little rain shower; in the afternoon, dew, the north wind blew. Night of the 17th, beginning of the night, clouds crossed the sky, a little rain shower;
Obverse [14:15] o 1515–o 1515[last part of the night, the moon was] 1 cubit [in fr]ont of β Librae, the moon being 1/2? cubit low to the south. The 17th, [in the after]noon, overcast, a little rain shower. Night of the 18th, last part of the night, the moon was [...] in front of β/δ Scorpii,
Obverse [15:16] o 1616–o 1616[the moon being] 2? cubits low to the south; clouds were in the sky. The 18th, clouds were in the sky. [Night of the 1]9th, last part of the night, the moon was 4? cubits above α Scorpii, the moon [having passed] 1/2 cubit to the east,
Obverse [16:17] o 1717–o 1717[nn cu]bits [above Mars,] the moon having passed 6 fingers to the east. The 1[9th,] clouds were in the sky. Night of the 20th, [last part of the night, the moon was] 2 1/2 cubits above ϑ Ophiuchi, the moon being 1/2 [cubit ...]
Obverse [17:18] o 1818–o 1818[...] clouds were in the sky. Night of the 22nd, [...] thin clouds were in the sky. The 22nd, in [...] ...; in the afternoon, overcast, rain shower, [...]
Obverse [18:19] o 1919–o 1919[Night of the 23rd, beginning] of the night, clouds crossed the sky, a little rain shower; last part of the night, the moon was [...] in front of β [Capricorni, the moon] being a little low to the south. The 2[3rd, ...]
Obverse [19:20] o 2020–o 2020[... Night of the 2]4th, last part of the night, the moon was 2 1/2 cubits behind β Capricorni, the moon being 2 1/2 cubits [low to the south ...]
Obverse [20:21] o 2121–o 2121[...] a gusty [sou]th wind blew. Night of the 25th, very overcast, ... [...]
Obverse [21:23] o 2222–[...] moonrise to sunrise: [nn°;] clouds, I did not watch? [...]
Reverse [0:1] r 1'r 1'–r 1'r 1'[...] ... it was set towards (the moon's) southern? horn. The 13th, sunrise to moonset: 4° [...]
Reverse [1:2] r 2'2'–r 2'2'[... Night of the 14th, ... the moon was] 2 1/2 cubits [above] α Virginis, the moon [having passed] 1/2 cubit to the east [...]
Reverse [2:3] r 3'3'–r 3'3'[... cu]bits; the north wind blew. The 14th, the north wind blew. Night of the 15th, sunset to moonrise: 11° 40', ... [...]
Reverse [3:4] r 4'4'–r 4'4'[...] all day very overcast. Night of the 16th, last part of the night, the moon was 2 ⸢x⸣ behind β Librae [...]
Reverse [4:5] r 5'5'–r 5'5'[... bl]ew?. Night of the 17th, very overcast; last part of the night, the moon was 1 cubit in front of α Scorpii, the moon being 1/2 cubit [high to the north ...]
Reverse [5:6] r 6'6'–r 6'6'[... Night of the 18th, last part of the night, the moo]n was <...> in front of ϑ Ophiuchi, the moon being 2? cubits high to the north, it [stood ...] in front of Mars [to the west ...]
Reverse [6:7] r 7'7'–r 7'7'[...] all day clouds were in the sky, the south wind blew?. Night of the 19th, last part of the night, ... [...]
Reverse [7:8] r 8'8'–r 8'8'[...] very overcast. Night of the 21st, very overcast; last part of the night, rain DUL; around the 21st, Jupiter’s acronychal rising ... [...]
Reverse [8:9] r 9'9'–r 9'9'[... cl]ouds were in the sky. Night of the 22nd, last part of the night, the moon was 2 1/2 cubits below β Capricorni, [the moon] having passed [nn] cubits to the east; thin clouds were in the sky.
Reverse [9:10] r 10'10'–r 10'10'[...] were in the sky. Night of the 23rd, very overcast. The 23rd, all day rain DUL. The 24th, clouds were in the sky [...] very overcast; in the afternoon, a little rain shower.
Reverse [10:11] r 11'11'–r 11'11'[...] last part of the night, clouds were in the sky. The 26th, very overcast, a little rain shower, the south wind bl[ew]. Night of the 27th, last part of the night, clouds were in the sky. The 27th, moonrise to sunrise: 13° 50';
Reverse [11:12] r 12'12'–r 12'12'[...] all day clouds were in the sky, the south wind blew. The 27th, equinox. Around until the 28th, when Mars became stationary to the east, it became stationary 1/2 cubit behind ϑ Ophiuchi, being 1 cubit high to the north. Night? of the 28th?. first? part of the night,
Reverse [12:13] r 13'13'–r 13'13'[Venus] was 1 1/2 cubits [below η Taur]i. The 29th, Mercury’s last appearance in the east in the end of Pisces; I did not watch. Night of the 30th, last part of the night, clouds were in the sky. The 30th, clouds were in the sky; in the afternoon,
Reverse [13:14] r 14'14'–r 14'14'[...] green locusts attacked. That month, the equivalent was: barley, in the beginning of the month, 2 pānu 1 sūtu 3 qa, in the middle of the month,
Reverse [14:15] r 15'15'–r 15'15'[..., un]til the end of the month, 2 pānu 1 sūtu; dates, in the <beginning> of the month, 1 kurru, in the midd[le of the month ...] 3 sūtu, until <the end> of the month, 4 pānu 4 sūtu; mustard, 2 kurru 2 pānu 3 sūtu; cress, 1 pānu 4 sūtu; sesame, 3 sūtu; wool,
Reverse [15:16] r 16'16'–r 16'16'[nn min]as were sold for <1> shekel of silver. [... the 2]6th, Venus reached Taurus; Mercury, in the beginning of the month, was in Aquarius; the 4th, Mercury reached Pisces; around the 29th,
Reverse [16:17] r 17'17'–r 17'17'[Mercury's?] last appearance [in the east in] Pisces [...] ... from the 6th to the 12th, (the river level) rose 1 cubit, total: 30 was the na na-gauge; from the 13th to the 20th, it receded 8 fingers, total: 32 was the na na-gauge;
Reverse [17:18] r 18'18'–r 18'18'from the 28th to the 30th?, [...] The 5th, the commander of the troops of Babylonia who was against? the 4 presidents
Reverse [18:19] r 19'19'–r 19'19'entered Babylon. The 6th, at the ... gate [...] the pure gate, the administrator of Esangil and the Babylonians
Reverse [19:20] r 20'20'–r 20'20'provided an ox and 5 (sheep) sacrifices to [the commander of the troops of Babylo]nia; he performed offerings to Bēl, Bēltiya,
Reverse [20:21] r 21'21'–r 21'21'the great gods, and for the life [of] king Seleucus, his wife, and his sons. That? day, [...]
Reverse [21:23] r 22'22'–r 23'23'went out from Babylon to Seleucia which is on the Tigris and the royal canal [...]
Reverse [22:24] r 23'23'–Year 133, S[eleucus ...]
Top [0:2] t.e. 1t.e. 1–Year 133 [... Year 1]33.
Left [0:2] l.e. 1l.e. 1–[Year 133].
Right [0:1] r.e. 1r.e. 1–r.e. 1r.e. 1Year 133 [...]

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
1MU 1 ME 33.KAM₂ {m}se-lu-ku LUGAL {[itu}ZIZ₂ ...]
2GE₆ 2 DIR AN DIB AN ne₂-hi PISAN DIB 2 ina [...]
3ina KIN.SIG DIR AN ZA GE₆ 4 sin ar₂ ⸢MUL₂⸣-[ar₂-ša₂-SAG-HUN N KUŠ₃ sin 6 KUŠ₃ ana ULU₃] SIG 4 ina ⸢KIN⸣.[SIG DIR AN ... GE₆ 5 (SAG GE₆)]
4sin ina IGI MUL₂.MUL₂ 1 KUŠ₃ sin 4 KUŠ₃ ana ⸢ULU₃⸣ [SIG 5 DIR AN] ZA 6 6 DIR AN ZA 6 DIR AN ZA GE₆ 7 SAG ⸢GE₆⸣
5DIR AN ZA sin SIG ŠUR-GIGIR-ša₂-ULU₃ 1 1/2 [KUŠ₃ sin N] KUŠ₃ ana ŠU₂ LAL ar₂ GENNA 1 KUŠ₃ ana NIM GUB sin 1 1/2 KUŠ₃ ana ULU₃ SIG
6ina ZALAG₂ DIR SAL AN ZA 7 ina še-ri₃ DIR ⸢SAL⸣ [AN ZA ina] ⸢KIN⸣.SIG ULU₃ GIN GE₆ 8 ŠU₂.ŠU₂ 8 ina še-ri₃ DIR AN DIB ULU₃ GIN
7kal ME DIR AN ⸢ZA GE₆ 9 SAG⸣ [GE₆] ⸢DIR⸣ AN ZA sin SIG MAŠ.MAŠ-ar₂ 4 KUŠ₃ sin 1/2 KUŠ₃ ana ŠU₂ LAL 9 DIR AN ⸢ZA⸣
8⸢ULU₃ GIN GE₆ 10 [SAG GE₆ sin] ⸢ina IGI MUL₂-ar₂-ša₂⸣-[ALLA-ša₂]-⸢ULU₃⸣ 1/2 KUŠ₃ ina ZALAG₂ DIR AN ZA 10 kal ME ŠU₂.ŠU₂ KUR GIN GE₆ 11 ŠU₂.ŠU₂
9[x x x 11 DIR AN DIB GU₄.UD ina ŠU₂ ina ⸢zib⸣{me} ⸢ŠU₂⸣ NU PAP kal ME DIR AN ZA KUR GIN GE₆ 12 sin ar₂ LUGAL 3 KUŠ₃
1012 N ŠU₂] ⸢DIR⸣ muš SI GIN GE₆ 13 9 ME ⸢USAN⸣ sin ina IGI ar₂ GIR₃-ša₂-A 2 1/2 KUŠ₃ sin 1/2 KUŠ₃ ana SI NIM 13
11[N na] ⸢DIR⸣ muš KUR GIN kal ME DIR AN ZA [x] ⸢GIN⸣ GE₆ 14 7 GE₆ a-kam₂ muš ina ZALAG₂ AN e SI₄ 2 1/2 KUŠ₃
12[sin] ⸢ar₂⸣ DELE-ša₂-IGI-ABSIN 1/2 KUŠ₃ 14 ⸢x⸣ [x x] ⸢DIR AN⸣ ZA GE₆ 15 ina ZALAG₂ sin e SA₄-ša₂-ABSIN 2 1/2 KUŠ₃
13[sin N N] ⸢ana⸣ NIM DIB 15 DIR AN ⸢ZA⸣ [GE₆] 16 ina ⸢ZALAG₂ sin⸣ ar₂ MUL₂.BABBAR 1 KUŠ₃ ana NIM GUB sin 1/2 KUŠ₃ ana SI NIM DIR ⸢AN ZA⸣
14[N DIR] ⸢AN⸣ DIB AN UTAH i-ṣa ina KIN.⸢SIG⸣ AN na-⸢al⸣-[šu₂] ⸢SI⸣ GIN GE₆ 17 SAG GE₆ DIR AN DIB AN UTAH i-ṣa
15[ina ZALAG₂ sin ina] ⸢IGI⸣ RIN₂-ša₂-SI 1 KUŠ₃ ⸢sin⸣ 1/2 KUŠ₃ ana ULU₃ SIG 17 [ina KIN].⸢SIG⸣ ŠU₂ AN UTAH i-ṣa GE₆ 18 ina ZALAG₂ sin ina IGI ⸢MUL₂⸣-[x]-ša₂-SAG-GIR₂.TAB
16[N N sin] 2 KUŠ₃ ana ULU₃ SIG DIR AN ZA 18 DIR AN ⸢ZA⸣ [GE₆] 19 ina ZALAG₂ sin e SI₄ 4 KUŠ₃ sin 1/2 KUŠ₃ ana ⸢NIM⸣ [DIB]
17[e AN N] ⸢KUŠ₃⸣ sin 6 SI ana NIM ⸢DIB 19 DIR AN ZA GE₆ 20 [ina ZALAG₂ sin] ⸢e⸣ MUL₂-KUR-ša₂-KIR₄-šil-PA 2 1/2 KUŠ₃ sin 1/2 [KUŠ₃ ana x x]
18[x x] DIR AN ZA GE₆ 22 [x x (x)] ⸢DIR⸣ SAL AN ZA 22 ina [x x] ZA ina KIN.SIG ŠU₂ AN UTAH [x x]
19[GE₆ 23 SAG] GE₆ DIR AN DIB AN ⸢UTAH i⸣-ṣa ina ZALAG₂ sin IGI ⸢SI⸣-[MAŠ₂ N N sin i]-⸢ṣa ana⸣ ULU₃ SIG 23 [x x]
20[x x GE₆] 24 ina ZALAG₂ sin ar₂ SI-MAŠ₂ 2 1/2 KUŠ₃ sin 2 1/2 ⸢KUŠ₃⸣ [ana ULU₃ SIG ...]
21[...] ⸢ULU₃⸣ ŠAR₂ GIN GE₆ 25 ⸢ŠU₂.ŠU₂ x⸣ [...]
22[...] KUR ⸢DIR NU PAP⸣ [...]
r
1'[...] ⸢x x⸣ ana ⸢SI-šu₂ ša₂ ULU₃ GIN 13 4 na⸣ [...]
2'[... GE₆ 14 ... sin e] SA₄-ša₂-ABSIN 2 1/2 KUŠ₃ sin 1/2 KUŠ₃ ana NIM [DIB ...]
3'[...] ⸢KUŠ₃⸣ SI GIN 14 SI GIN GE₆ 15 11.40 GE₆ ⸢x⸣ [...]
4'[...] kal ME ŠU₂.ŠU₂ GE₆ 16 ina ZALAG₂ sin ar₂ RIN₂-ša₂-SI 2 ⸢x⸣ [...]
5'[...] ⸢GIN⸣ GE₆ 17 ŠU₂.ŠU₂ ina ZALAG₂ sin ina IGI ⸢SI₄ 1 KUŠ₃⸣ sin 1/2 KUŠ₃ ana [SI NIM ...]
6'[... GE₆ 18 ina ZALAG₂] ⸢sin⸣ ina IGI MUL₂-KUR-ša₂-KIR₄-šil-PA <N N> sin 2 KUŠ₃ ana SI ⸢NIM⸣ ina IGI ⸢AN⸣ [N N ana ŠU₂ GUB ...]
7'[...] kal ME DIR AN ZA ULU₃ GIN GE₆ 19 ina ZALAG₂ ⸢x⸣ [...]
8'[x x x x] ŠU₂.ŠU₂ GE₆ 21 ŠU₂.ŠU₂ USAN.ZAL.LA AN DUL in 21 MUL₂.BABBAR ana ME E-a ⸢x⸣ [...]
9'[x x x] ⸢DIR⸣ AN ZA GE₆ 22 ina ZALAG₂ sin SIG SI-MAŠ₂ 2 1/2 KUŠ₃ [sin N] ⸢KUŠ₃⸣ ana NIM DIB DIR SAL ⸢AN⸣ [ZA]
10'[x x x] ⸢AN⸣ ZA GE₆ 23 ŠU₂.ŠU₂ 23 kal ME AN DUL 24 DIR AN ⸢ZA⸣ [x x] ŠU₂.ŠU₂ ina KIN.SIG AN UTAH i-ṣa
11'[x x x] ina ZALAG₂ DIR AN ZA 26 ŠU₂.ŠU₂ AN UTAH i-ṣa ULU₃ ⸢GIN⸣ GE₆ 27 ina ZALAG₂ DIR AN ZA 27 13.50 KUR
12'[x x] kal ME DIR AN ZA ULU₃ GIN 27 LAL₂-ti₃ ⸢in EN⸣ 28 AN ana NIM ki UŠ-u₂ 1/2 KUŠ₃ ar₂ MUL₂-KUR-⸢ša₂⸣-KIR₄-šil-PA 1 KUŠ₃ ana SI NIM ⸢UŠ GE₆ 28 USAN⸣
13'[dele-bat SIG MUL₂].⸢MUL₂⸣ 1 1/2 KUŠ₃ 29 GU₄.UD ina NIM ina TIL zib{me} NU PAP GE₆ 30 ina ZALAG₂ DIR AN ZA 30 DIR AN ZA ina KIN.SIG
14'[x x] BURU₅{hi.a} SIG₇ ZI-a ITU ⸢BI KI.LAM⸣ še-im ina SAG ITU 2(BARIG) 1(BAN₂) 3 qa ina MURUB₄ ITU
15'[x x] ⸢EN⸣ TIL ITU 2(BARIG) 1(BAN₂) ZU₂ ina <SAG> ITU 1(GUR) GUR ina ⸢MURUB₄⸣ [ITU x] 3(BAN₂) EN <TIL> ITU 4(BARIG) 4(BAN₂) kas₃ 2(GUR) GUR 2(BARIG) 3(BAN₂) sah-le₁₀ 1(BARIG) 4(BAN₂) ŠE.GIŠ.I₃ 3(BAN₂) SIG₂{hi.a}
16'[N MA].⸢NA⸣ a-na 1 GIN₂ KU₃.BABBAR ⸢ep⸣-[šu₂ ...] 26 dele-bat MUL₂.MUL₂ KUR-ad₂ GU₄.UD ina SAG ITU ina GU 4 GU₄.UD zib{me} KUR-ad₂ in 29
17'[<GU₄.UD> ina NIM ina] ⸢zib{me} ŠU₂⸣ [...] ⸢x TA⸣ 6 EN 12 1 KUŠ₃ GIN PAP 30 na TA 13 EN 20 8 SI LAL PAP 32 na
18'TA 28 EN 30 [...] U₄ 5.KAM₂ {lu₂}GAL ERIN₂ KUR URI{ki}{meš} ša₂ ana UGU 4 {lu₂}GAL UKKIN{meš} ana E{ki}
19'KU₄-ub U₄ 6 ina KA₂-du-de-[e] KA₂.SIKIL.LA {lu₂}ŠA₃.TAM E₂.SAG.IL₂ u {lu₂}E{ki}{meš}
20'GU₄ u₃ 5 SISKUR{meš} a-na {[lu₂}GAL ERIN₂ KUR] ⸢URI⸣{ki}{meš} ul-te-zi-zu-u₂ NIDBA a-na {d}EN {d}GAŠAN-ia₂
21'DINGIR{meš} GAL{meš} u₃ a-na ⸢bul⸣-[ṭu ša₂] {m}se-lu-ku LUGAL DAM-šu₂ {lu₂}A{meš}šu₂ GAR-an U₄ ⸢BI⸣ [...]
22'TA E{ki} a-na {uru}se-lu-⸢ke⸣-[ʾa-a ša₂ ina UGU {id₂]}⸢IDIGNA⸣ u₃ ID₂ LUGAL E₃-⸢ni⸣ [...]
23'MU 1 ME 33.KAM₂ {m}⸢se⸣-[lu-ku ...]
t.e.
1MU 1 ME 33.KAM₂ [... MU 1 ME] 33.KAM₂⸣
l.e.
1[...].KAM₂
r.e.
1MU 1 ME 33.KAM₂ [...]

Sources & licences

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