AD -253A1 (X202530)
Astronomical Diary, Hellenistic, Babylon · c. 330 BCE–141 BCE
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| Designation | AD -253A1 |
|---|---|
| ID | X202530 |
| Museum no. | BM 45840 + 45945 |
| Language | Akkadian |
| Period | Hellenistic · c. 330 BCE–141 BCE |
| Genre | Astronomical Diary |
| Find spot | Babylon |
| Coordinates | 32.5434, 44.4222 |
English translation
By ORACC project adsd/adart2 · Via Open Richly Annotated Cuneiform Corpus (ORACC) · CC BY-SA 3.0 (ORACC)
| Line | English |
|---|---|
| Obverse [0:1] o A₁1o A₁1–o A₁1o A₁1 | [Year 58, king Antiochus, month VII, ... Night of the 1st, first part of the night, Sat]urn was 2? fingers below β Scorpii. The 1st, Jupiter became stationary in Gemini; I did not? [watch?.] |
| Obverse [1:2] o A₁2A₁2–o A₁2A₁2 | [...] The 2nd, equinox; I did not watch. Night of the 3rd, the moon 1 1/2 cubits in front of ϑ Ophiuchi. The 3rd, Mercury’s |
| Obverse [2:3] o A₁3A₁3–o A₁3A₁3 | [last appearance] in the ea[st in Virgo; ... Night of the 7th, beginning of the night, the moon was] 1 2/3 cubits in front of γ Capricorni. Night of the 8th, beginning of the night, the moon was 2 1/2 cubits behind δ Capricorni. |
| Obverse [3:4] o A₁4A₁4–o A₁4A₁4 | [... Night of the 13th,] moonrise to sunset: [x]+10'; beginning of the night, the moon was 6 cubits below β Arietis, the moon having passed 2/3 cubit to the east. The 13th, moonset to sunrise: 50'. |
| Obverse [4:5] o A₁5A₁5–o A₁5A₁5 | [...] sunset to setting of Saturn: [1]8°. Night of the 17th, last part of the night, the moon was 1 1/2 cubits behind ζ Tauri. Around the 18th, Saturn’s |
| Obverse [5:7] o A₁6A₁6–o B₁1'B₁1' | (o B₁1) [last appearance in Scorpius ...] Night of the 20th, last part of the night, the moon was 2 cubits in front of δ Cancri. Night of the 22nd, last part of the night, the moon was 8 fingers below α Leonis, the moon being 6 fingers back to the west. |
| Obverse [7:8] o B₁2'B₁2'–o B₁2'B₁2' | [...] ... [... Night of the 2]4th, last part of the night, the moon was 10 fingers in front of β Virginis, the moon being 2 fingers to [...] |
| Obverse [8:9] o A₁7A₁7–o A₁7A₁7 | Night of the 25th, last part of the night, the moon was 1/2 cubit in front of γ Virginis, the moon being 2 fin[gers ... to ...] Night of the 26th, last part of the night, the moon was |
| Obverse [9:10] o B₁3'B₁3'–o B₁3'B₁3' | 2 1/2 cubits [above] α Virginis, the moon being 8 fingers back to the west. Night of the 2[7th, last part of the night,] |
| Obverse [10:11] o A₁8A₁8–o A₁8A₁8 | [the moon] stood [... behind Mars to] the east. The 27th, moonrise to sunrise: 19° 20' (var. 9°). That month, the equivalent was: barley, 3 pānu 2 sūtu; dates were cut off from the market place |
| Obverse [11:12] o B₁4'B₁4'–o B₁4'B₁4' | of Babylon; mustard, 1 kurru; cress, 1 pānu 2 sūtu; sesame, 2 sūtu 1 1/2 qa; wool, 3 minas |
| Obverse [12:14] o A₁9A₁9–o B₁5'B₁5' | (= o B₁5) [were sold for 1 shekel of silver. At] that time, Jupiter was in Gemini; around the 10th, Venus’ last appearance in the east in Libra; around the 3rd, Mercury’s last appearance in the east in Virgo; around the 18th, Saturn’s last appearance in Scorpius; Mars was in Virgo, in the middle of the month, in Libra. |
| Obverse [14:18] o A₁10A₁10–o A₁12A₁12 | (= o B₁6) [That month, the river level ...] 28 was the na na-gauge. That month it was heard in Babylon: queen Stratonike died in Sardis. |
| Obverse [17:19] o A₁12A₁12–o B₁7'B₁7' | (= o B₁7) [Month VIII, (the 1st of which was identical with) the 30th (of the preceding month),] sunset to moonset: 14° 30'; in? [... last] part of the night, Jupiter was 3 fingers above μ Geminorum. Night of the 4th, beginning of the night, the moon was 2 1/2 cubits in front of β Capricorni. Night of the 6th, beginning of the night, the moon was 2 cubits behind δ Capricorni. |
| Obverse [19:21] o A₁13A₁13–o B₁8'B₁8' | (= o B₁8) Ni[ght of the 10th, beginning of the night, the moon was] 3 1/2 cubits [in front of η] Piscium. The 10th, gusty wind. Night of the 11th, beginning of the night, the moon was 5 1/2 cubits below β Arietis, the moon being 1/2 cubit back to the west. The 11th, clouds were in the sky, rain shower. Night of the 13th, |
| Obverse [21:23] o A₁14A₁14–o B₁9'B₁9' | (= o B₁9) [moonrise to sunset: nn° ... x]+1/2 cubits. The 13th, moonset to sunrise: 10° 10'; I did not watch. Night of the 14th, sunset to moonrise: 20'; cl[ouds?,] I did not watch; beginning of the night, the moon was balanced 4 fingers in front of α Tauri; first part of the night, α Tauri entered the moon. |
| Obverse [23:26] o B₁10'B₁10'–o A₁16A₁16 | [The 14th, sunrise to moonset: nn°. Night of the 15th, last part of the night, the moon was] 10 fingers [...] ζ Tauri. Night of the 16th, last part of the night, the moon stood 2+[x cubits] behind Jupiter to the east, 2/3 cubit in front of γ Geminorum. Night of the 17th, last part of the night, the moon was be[low ...] |
| Obverse [26:27] o B₁11'B₁11'–o B₁11'B₁11' | [...] Night of the 19th, last part of the night, the moon was 1 [cub]it behind δ Cancri. Night of the 20th, last part of the night, the moon was 2 cubits 4 fingers in front of α Leonis. Night of the 20+[xth, ...] |
| Obverse [27:28] o B₁12'B₁12'–o B₁12'B₁12' | [... Night] of the 23rd, last part of the night, the moon was 2 2/3 cubits in front? of γ Virginis. The 23rd, Saturn’s [first appearance] in Scorpius [...] |
| Obverse [28:29] o B₁13'B₁13'–o B₁13'B₁13' | [... Night of the 26th, last part of the night, the moon was] 1/2 cubit [...] α Librae, it stood 1+[x mm] in front of Mars to the west. Night of the 27th, last part of the night, the moon was [...] in front of [β/δ Scorpii ...] |
| Obverse [29:30] o B₁14'B₁14'–o B₁14'B₁14' | [... Night of the 28th, last part of the night, the moon ...] stood 2 1/2 cubits [behind Sa]turn to the east. The 28th, moonrise to sunrise: [x]+10'. The 29th, Jupiter’s acronychal [rising ...] |
| Obverse [30:31] o B₁15'B₁15'–o B₁15'B₁15' | [...] ... At that time, Jupiter was in Gemini; Venus and Me[rcury, which] had set, were not visible; Satu[rn ...] |
| Obverse [32:33] o B₂1'B₂1'–o B₂1'B₂1' | [...] Virginis 1 1/2 cubits [...] |
| Obverse [33:34] o B₂2'B₂2'–o B₂2'B₂2' | [... the moon was] 2 cubits in front of Saturn, 1 2/3? cubits in front of Mars [...] |
| Obverse [34:35] o B₂3'B₂3'–o B₂3'B₂3' | [... That month,] the equivalent was: barley, 3 pānu; da[tes, ...] |
| Obverse [35:37] o B₂4'B₂4'–o B₂5'B₂5' | [... Mercu]ry’s first appearance in the east in Sagittarius; Saturn and Mars were in Scorpius [...] |
| Obverse [36:37] o B₂5'B₂5'–o B₂5'B₂5' | [Month X, ... the moon was] 5 cubits [below] α Arietis ... [...] |
| Obverse [37:38] o B₂6'B₂6'–o B₂6'B₂6' | [... the moon] was surrounded by a halo, Jupiter [stood] in it [...] |
| Reverse [0:1] r A₁1'r A₁1'–r A₁1'r A₁1' | [...] 2/3 cubit, below ... [...] |
| Reverse [1:2] r A₁2'A₁2'–r A₁2'A₁2' | [...] stood to the east. Night of the 5th, beginning of the night, the moo[n was ... γ Geminorum] |
| Reverse [2:3] r A₁3'A₁3'–r A₁3'A₁3' | [...] 1/2 cubit; last part of the night, Mars was [...] above γ Capricorni [...] |
| Reverse [3:4] r A₁4'A₁4'–r A₁4'A₁4' | [... Mer]cury’s last appearance in the west in the end of Aries; I did not watch. Night of the 10th, beginn[ing of the night, ...] |
| Reverse [4:5] r A₁5'A₁5'–r A₁5'A₁5' | [... Night of the 12th, beginning] of the night, the moon was 2 cubits in front of γ Virginis. Night of the 1[3th, ...] |
| Reverse [5:6] r A₁6'A₁6'–r A₁6'A₁6' | [...] The 13th, moonset to sunrise: 6°? 10'. Night of the 14th, moonrise to sunset: 17°, measured. The 14th, sunrise to moonset: 5°, measured. |
| Reverse [6:7] r A₁7'A₁7'–r A₁7'A₁7' | [... Night of the 17th, last part of the night, the moon] stood 2 1/2 cubits [behind Saturn] to the east. Night of the 18th, first part of the night, Venus was 2 cubits below β Tauri. |
| Reverse [7:8] r A₁8'A₁8'–r A₁8'A₁8' | [...] ..., it hailed. The 20th, clouds were in the sky; in the afternoon, lightning flashed, thunder, cloudburst, PISAN DIB |
| Reverse [8:9] r A₁9'A₁9'–r A₁9'A₁9' | [...] Night of the 22nd, [last part of the ni]ght, the moon was 4 cubits behind δ Capricorni. |
| Reverse [9:10] r A₁10'A₁10'–r A₁10'A₁10' | [...] The 27th, moonrise to sunrise: 15°; clouds, I did not watch. Night of the 28th, first part of the night, Venus |
| Reverse [10:11] r A₁11'A₁11'–r A₁11'A₁11' | [was ... above η /m Geminorum ...] mustard, 3 pānu; cress, 1 pānu 4 sūtu, at the end of the month, 2 pānu; |
| Reverse [11:13] r A₁12'A₁12'– | [... Mer]cury’s last appearance in the west in the end of Aries; Saturn was in Scorpius. |
| Top [0:2] t.e. A₁1t.e. A₁1– | [Year] 58, king [Anti]ochus. |
| Right [0:1] r.e. A₁1r.e. A₁1–r.e. A₁1r.e. A₁1 | Year [58, ...] |
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)
| Line | ATF | Machine English (draft) |
|---|---|---|
| o | ||
| A₁1 | [MU 58.KAM₂ {m}an-ti-ʾu-uk-su LUGAL DU₆ ... GE₆ 1 USAN] ⸢GENNA SIG⸣ MUL₂-e-ša₂-SAG-GIR₂.TAB 2 SI 1 MUL₂.BABBAR ina MAŠ.MAŠ UŠ ⸢NU⸣ [PAP] | |
| A₁2 | [...] 2 LAL₂-ti₃ NU PAP GE₆ 3 sin ina IGI MUL₂-KUR-ša₂-KIR₄-šil-PA 1 1/2 KUŠ₃ 3 GU₄.UD ina ⸢NIM⸣ | |
| A₁3 | [ina ABSIN ŠU₂ ... GE₆ 7 SAG GE₆ sin ina] IGI MUL₂-IGI-ša₂-SUHUR-MAŠ₂ 1 2/3 KUŠ₃ GE₆ 8 SAG GE₆ sin ar₂ MUL₂-ar₂-ša₂-SUHUR-MAŠ₂ 2 1/2 KUŠ₃ | |
| A₁4 | [... GE₆ 13 x]+10 ME SAG GE₆ sin SIG MUL₂-IGI-ša₂-SAG-⸢HUN⸣ 6 KUŠ₃ sin 2/3 KUŠ₃ ana NIM DIB 13 50 NINDA ŠU₂ | |
| A₁5 | [...] 18 na GENNA GE₆ 17 ina ZALAG₂ sin ar₂ ŠUR-GIGIR-ša₂-ULU₃ 1 1/2 KUŠ₃ in 18 GENNA | |
| A₁6 | [ina GIR₂.TAB ŠU₂ ...] ⸢ALLA⸣-ša₂-ULU₃ 2 KUŠ₃ GE₆ 22 ina ZALAG₂ sin SIG LUGAL 8 SI sin 6 U ana ŠU₂ LAL | |
| B₁1' | [...] GE₆ 20 ina ZALAG₂ sin ina IGI MUL₂-⸢ar₂⸣-[ša₂-ALLA-ša₂-ULU₃ N N ...] | |
| B₁2' | [...] ⸢x⸣ [... GE₆] 24 ina ZALAG₂ sin ina IGI GIR₃-ar₂-ša₂-A 10 ⸢SI⸣ sin 2 ⸢SI ana⸣ [x x] | |
| A₁7 | [...] 10 SI GE₆ 25 ina ZALAG₂ sin ina IGI DELE-ša₂-IGI-ABSIN 1/2 KUŠ₃ GE₆ 26 ina ZALAG₂ sin | |
| B₁3' | [...] 1/2 KUŠ₃ sin 2 ⸢SI⸣ [ana ... e] ⸢SA₄⸣-ša₂-ABSIN 2 1/2 KUŠ₃ sin 8 [SI] ana ŠU₂ LAL GE₆ 27 [ina ZALAG₂] | |
| A₁8 | [... N N ana] ⸢NIM⸣ GUB 27 9 KUR ITU BI ⸢KI⸣.LAM še-im 3(BARIG) 2(BAN₂) ZU₂ ina kar-ri | |
| B₁4' | [sin ar₂ AN ...] 27 19.20 ITU BI [...] ⸢ZU₂⸣ ina kar-ri E{ki} TAR-is kas₃ 1(GUR) sah 1(BARIG) 2(BAN₂) ŠE.GIŠ 2(BAN₂) 1 1/2 qa SIG₂ 3 ⸢MA⸣.NA | |
| A₁9 | [E{ki]} ⸢TAR⸣-is ⸢kas₃⸣ 1 GUR ⸢sah⸣ [... i]-⸢nu⸣-šu₂ MUL₂.BABBAR ina MAŠ.MAŠ in 10 dele-bat ina NIM ina RIN₂ ŠU₂ in 3 GU₄.UD ina NIM | |
| B₁5' | [a-na 1 GIN₂ KU₃.BABBAR ep₂-šu₂ i]-nu-šu₂ MUL₂.BABBAR ina MAŠ.MAŠ in 10 dele-bat ina NIM ina [RIN₂ ŠU₂ in 3 GU₄].⸢UD⸣ ina NIM ina ABSIN ŠU₂ in 18 GENNA ina GIR₂.TAB ŠU₂ AN ina ABSIN ina MURUB₄ ITU ina RIN₂ | |
| A₁10 | [ina ABSIN] ŠU₂ in 18 GENNA ina GIR₂.TAB ŠU₂ ⸢AN⸣ [...] 28 na ITU BI ina E{ki} it-teš₂-mu um-ma | |
| B₁6' | [ITU BI ILLU ...] ITU BI ina E{ki} it-teš₂-mu-⸢u₂ um⸣-[ma {f}as]-ta-rat-ni-qe₂ GAŠAN ina {uru}sa-par-du šim-tu₄ ub-til-šu₂ | |
| A₁11 | {[f}as]-⸢ta⸣-rat-ni-qe₂-e ⸢MI₂⸣ [LUGAL ...] | |
| A₁12 | [APIN 30 14.30 na-su [x] [...] ⸢sin ina IGI⸣ SI-MAŠ₂ 2 1/2 KUŠ₃ GE₆ 6 SAG GE₆ ⸢sin⸣ | |
| B₁7' | [... ina] ⸢ZALAG₂⸣ MUL₂.BABBAR e MUL₂-ar₂-ša₂-še-pit-MAŠ.MAŠ 3 SI GE₆ 4 SAG GE₆ sin ina IGI SI-MAŠ₂ 2 1/2 KUŠ₃ GE₆ 6 SAG GE₆ sin ar₂ MUL₂-ar₂-ša₂-SUHUR-MAŠ₂ 2 KUŠ₃ | |
| A₁13 | [ar₂ MUL₂-ar₂]-⸢ša₂⸣-SUHUR-MAŠ₂ 2 KUŠ₃ ⸢GE₆⸣ 10 ... GE₆] 11 SAG GE₆ sin SIG MUL₂-IGI-ša₂-SAG-HUN 5 1/2 KUŠ₃] | |
| B₁8' | [GE₆ 10 SAG GE₆ sin ina IGI MUL₂-KUR-ša₂]-⸢DUR⸣-nu-nu 3 1/2 KUŠ₃ 10 IM ŠAR₂ GE₆ 11 SAG GE₆ sin SIG ⸢MUL₂-IGI⸣-ša₂-SAG-HUN 5 1/2 KUŠ₃ sin 1/2 KUŠ₃ ana ŠU₂ LAL 11 DIR AN ZA AN UTAH GE₆ 13 | |
| A₁14 | [...] ⸢ŠU₂ LAL⸣ 11 DIR AN ZA ⸢AN⸣ [...] ŠU₂ NU PAP GE₆ 14 20 NINDA GE₆ NU PAP [...] | |
| B₁9' | [N ME ... x]+1/2 KUŠ₃ 13 10.10 ŠU₂ NU PAP GE₆ 14 20 NINDA GE₆ ⸢DIR⸣ [NU PAP] SAG GE₆ sin ina IGI is-le₁₀ 4 SI LAL₂ USAN is-le₁₀ ana ŠA₃ sin KU₄ | |
| B₁10' | 14 N na GE₆ 15 ina ZALAG₂ sin x ŠUR]-⸢GIGIR⸣-ša₂-ULU₃ 10 SI GE₆ 16 ina ZALAG₂ sin ar₂ MUL₂.BABBAR 2+[x KUŠ₃] ana NIM GUB ina IGI MAŠ.MAŠ-ša₂-SIPA 2/3 KUŠ₃ GE₆ 17 ina ZALAG₂ sin ⸢SIG⸣ [...] | |
| A₁15 | [...] ⸢ša₂-ULU₃⸣ 10 SI GE₆ 16 ina [ZALAG₂ ...] | |
| A₁16 | [...] [x x] [...] | |
| B₁11' | [...] ⸢GE₆ 19 ina ZALAG₂ sin ar₂ MUL₂-ar₂-ša₂-ALLA 1 KUŠ₃⸣ GE₆ 20 ina ZALAG₂ sin ina IGI LUGAL 2 KUŠ₃ 4 SI GE₆ 20+[x x x x x] | |
| B₁12' | [... GE₆] 23 ina ZALAG₂ sin ⸢ina IGI DELE⸣-ša₂-IGI-ABSIN 2 2/3 KUŠ₃ 23 GENNA ina ⸢GIR₂.TAB⸣ [IGI x x x x] | |
| B₁13' | [... GE₆ 26 ina ZALAG₂ sin x RIN₂]-⸢ša₂⸣-ULU₃ 1/2 KUŠ₃ ina IGI AN 1+[x N] ana ŠU₂ GUB GE₆ 27 ina ZALAG₂ sin ina IGI [MUL₂-x-ša₂-SAG-GIR₂.TAB N N ...] | |
| B₁14' | [... GE₆ 28 ina ZALAG₂ sin (...) ar₂] ⸢GENNA⸣ 2 1/2 KUŠ₃ ana NIM GUB 28 [x]+10 KUR 29 MUL₂.BABBAR ana ⸢ME⸣ [E-a ...] | |
| B₁15' | [...] ⸢x i⸣-nu-šu₂ MUL₂.BABBAR ina MAŠ.MAŠ dele-bat u ⸢GU₄⸣.[UD ša₂] ŠU₂-u₂ NU IGI-uʾ ⸢GENNA⸣ [...] | |
| B₁16' | [...] ⸢x x x⸣ [...] | |
| B₂1' | [...] ABSIN 1 1/2 ⸢KUŠ₃⸣ [...] | |
| B₂2' | [... sin ina] IGI GENNA 2 KUŠ₃ ina IGI AN 1 2/3 KUŠ₃⸣ [...] | |
| B₂3' | [... ITU] ⸢BI⸣ KI.LAM še-im 3(BARIG) PI ⸢ZU₂⸣ [...] | |
| B₂4' | [... GU₄].⸢UD⸣ ina NIM ina PA IGI GENNA u AN ina GIR₂.TAB [...] | |
| B₂5' | [AB ... sin SIG] ⸢MUL₂⸣-ar₂-ša₂-SAG-HUN 5 KUŠ₃ ⸢x⸣ [...] | |
| B₂6' | [... sin] ⸢TUR₃⸣ NIGIN MUL₂.BABBAR ina ŠA₃ [...] | |
| B₂7' | [...] ⸢x⸣ [...] | |
| r | ||
| A₁1' | [...] 2/3 KUŠ₃ SIG⸣ [x] [...] | |
| A₁2' | [... ana] ⸢NIM⸣ GUB GE₆ 5 SAG GE₆ ⸢sin⸣ [x MAŠ.MAŠ-ša₂-SIPA N N] | |
| A₁3' | [...] 1/2 KUŠ₃ ina ZALAG₂ AN e SUHUR-IGI [x] [...] | |
| A₁4' | [... GU₄].UD ina ŠU₂ ina TIL HUN ŠU₂ NU PAP GE₆ 10 ⸢SAG⸣ [GE₆ x] | |
| A₁5' | [... GE₆ 12 SAG] GE₆ sin ina IGI DELE-ša₂-IGI-ABSIN 2 KUŠ₃ GE₆ 13 [x] | |
| A₁6' | [...] 13 6.10 ŠU₂ GE₆ 14 17 ME muš 14 5 na muš | |
| A₁7' | [... GE₆ 17 ina ZALAG₂ sin ar₂ GENNA] 2 1/2 KUŠ₃ ana NIM ⸢GUB⸣ GE₆ 18 USAN dele-bat SIG ŠUR-GIGIR-ša₂-SI 2 KUŠ₃ | |
| A₁8' | [...] [x] NA₄ ŠUR-⸢nun⸣ 20 DIR AN ZA ina KIN.SIG GIR₂ GIR₂ GU₃ U AN rad PISAN DIB | |
| A₁9' | [...] GE₆ 22 [ina] ⸢ZALAG₂⸣ sin ar₂ MUL₂-ar₂-ša₂-SUHUR-MAŠ₂ 4 KUŠ₃ | |
| A₁10' | [...] 27 15 KUR DIR NU PAP GE₆ 28 USAN dele-bat | |
| A₁11' | [e MUL₂-x-ša₂-še-pit₂-MAŠ.MAŠ N N ...] kas₃ 3(BARIG) PI sah 1(BARIG) 4(BAN₂) ina TIL ITU 2(BARIG) PI | |
| A₁12' | [... GU₄].UD ina ŠU₂ ina TIL HUN ŠU₂ GENNA ina GIR₂.TAB | |
| t.e. | ||
| A₁1 | [MU] 58.KAM₂⸣ {[m}an-ti]-ʾu-uk-su LUGAL | |
| r.e. | ||
| A₁1 | MU 58.KAM₂ ...] | |
Sources & licences
- 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) · ORACC project editions, https://oracc.museum.upenn.edu/ ; cite the individual project (see texts.extra_json.project)
Cite the original edition and translator. Page generated by Unread Atlas from the public corpus export of 2026-10-11.