AD -255A (X202551)
Astronomical Diary, Hellenistic, Babylon · c. 330 BCE–141 BCE
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| Designation | AD -255A |
|---|---|
| ID | X202551 |
| Museum no. | BM 41616 + 41636 + 41645 + 41797 + 42233 |
| 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 1o 1–o 1o 1 | [Year 56,] king [An]tiochus. Month I, the 1st (of which followed the 30th of the preceding month; sunset to moonset): 22°; measured (despite) clouds. Night [...] |
| Obverse [1:2] o 22–o 22 | [...] Night of the 5th, beginning of the night, the moon was 1 5/6 cubits behind γ Geminorum. Night of the 6th, beginning of the night, the moon was [...] behind [β Geminorum; first part of the night,] |
| Obverse [2:3] o 33–o 33 | [Venus was] 20 fingers [below] β Tauri. Night of the 8th, beginning of the night, the moon was 2 cubits in front of α Leonis. Night of the 10th, beginning of the ni[ght, the moon was ... β Virginis ...] |
| Obverse [3:4] o 44–o 44 | [...] Night of the 11th, beginning of the night, the moon was 2 cubits below γ Virginis, the moon being 1/2 cubit back to the west. Night of the 12th, [beginning of the night, the m]oon was [...] behind α [Virginis ...] |
| Obverse [4:5] o 55–o 55 | [... passed?. Night of the 13th, moonrise to sunset: 10° 30', measured. The 13th, sunrise to moonset: 4° 50'. Night of the 14th, sunset to moonrise: 7° 40' [... fir]st part of the night, Mars was 2 5/6 cubits above α Tauri; last part of the night, the moon was [...] in front of [δ?] |
| Obverse [5:6] o 66–o 66 | S[corpii.] Night of the 16th, first part of the night, Venus was 1 2/3 cubits above η Geminorum; last part of the night, the moon was 3 cubits [behind] ϑ Ophiuchi. Night of the 18th, first part of the night, Ve[nus] |
| Obverse [6:7] o 77–o 77 | was 1 5/6 cubits above [μ] Geminorum. Night of the 19th, last part of the night, the moon came cl[ose]? to the left of the lower star of the horn of Capricorn; last part of the night, the moon was 3 fingers behind the lower star of the horn of Capricorn. |
| Obverse [7:8] o 88–o 88 | Night of the 20th, last part of the night, the moon was 1 1/2 cubits in front of γ Capricorni. Night of the 21st, first part of the night, Venus was 4 1/2 cubits above γ Geminorum. Night of the 23rd, overcast. The 23rd, very overcast, [gusty?] wind, |
| Obverse [8:9] o 99–o 99 | rain shower. Night of the 24th (and) the 24th, ve[ry overcast], gusty wind, rain shower. Night of the 25th (and) the 25th, clouds crossed the sky, gusty wind, rain shower, thunder. Night of the 26th, very overcast; moonrise to sunrise: 18°; clouds, I did not watch. |
| Obverse [9:10] o 1010–o 1010 | The 26th, clouds crossed the sky, much thunder, rain, much PISAN DIB. The 27th, Mercury’s first appearance in the west in Taurus; clouds, I did not watch. Night of the 29th (and) the 29th, clouds crossed the sky, rain shower. |
| Obverse [10:11] o 1111–o 1111 | That month, the equivalent was: barley, 4 sūtu; dates, 1 pānu 1 sūtu 3 qa; mustard, 1 kurru 1 pānu 1 sūtu 3 qa; cress, 3 sūtu; sesame, 3 i{sūtu}; wool, 4 minas were sold for 1 shekel of silver. |
| Obverse [11:13] o 1212–o 1313 | At that time, Jupiter was in Pisces; Venus was in Taurus, in the middle of the month, in Gemini; Saturn was in Libra; around the 27th, Mercury’s first appearance in the west in Taurus; Mars was in Taurus. That month, the river level was 6 (at the) na na-gauge. |
| Obverse [12:13] o 1313–o 1313 | Month II, (the 1st of which was identical with) the 30th (of the preceding month, sunset to moonset): 13°; dense clouds, I did not watch. Night of the 1st, [clouds] crossed the sky. Night of the 3rd, clouds crossed the sky; first part of the night, Mars was 1 1/2 cubits below β Tauri. Night of the 4th, the moon was 1/2 cubit in front of β Geminorum. Night of the 6th, beginning of the night, the moon was |
| Obverse [13:14] o 1414–o 1414 | 3 cubits in front of α Leonis; first part of the night, [...] 2 cubits. Night of the 7th, first part of the night, Mars was 1 1/2 cubits above ζ Tauri. Night of the 8th, beginning of the night, the moon was 3 cubits in front of β Virginis. |
| Obverse [14:15] o 1515–o 1515 | [... Night of the 10th, be]ginning of the night, the moon was 1 5/6 cubits in front of α Virginis; first part of the night, Mercury was [...] above |
| Obverse [15:16] o 1616–o 1616 | μ [Geminorum ... x]+1 cubits. The 12th, moonset to sunrise: 7° 20'. Night of the 13th, first part of the night, Venus was 1 cubit below β Geminorum; last part of the night, the moon was [...] behind β |
| Obverse [16:17] o 1717–o 1717 | [Scorpii ... Night of the 14th, moonrise to sunset: nn; fir]st part of the night, Mercury was 1 1/2sic cubits above γ Geminorum. Night of the 15th, sunset to moonrise: 16° 20', measured. |
| Obverse [17:18] o 1818–o 1818 | [... Night of the 19th, last part of the night, the moon was] 5/6 cubit [...] δ Capricorni. The 23rd, Mars’ last appearance in Gemini. The 23rd, Sirius’ last appearance. |
| Obverse [18:19] o 1919–o 1919 | [Night of the 24th, last part of the night, the moon was] 1 2/3 cubits [...] η Piscium. Night of the 25th, last part of the night, the moon was 5 cubits below β Arietis. |
| Obverse [19:20] o 2020–o 2020 | [... at] the end of the month, 1 pānu 1 sūtu; dates, 1 pānu 1 sūtu 3 qa; mustard, 1 kurru 1 pānu 1 sūtu 3 qa; cress, 3 sūtu; sesame, 3 sūtu; |
| Reverse [0:1] r 1'r 1'–r 1'r 1' | [...] ... 32° onset and clearing; during its eclipse, the north wind which [...] |
| Reverse [1:2] r 2'2'–r 2'2' | [...] 2? fingers. That month, the equivalent (of 1 shekel of silver was): barley, 1 pānu 1 sūtu; dates, 1 pānu 4 sūtu; mustard, 1 kurru; cress, 3 sūtu; sesame, 4 sūtu; wool, 4 minas. |
| Reverse [2:4] r 3'3'–r 4'4' | [At that time, ... Mercury’s] last appearance in the west in Virgo; Saturn was in Libra; Mars was in Leo. That month, the river level receded 1/2 cubit, 27 was the na na-gauge. That month, ZI IR. |
| Reverse [3:4] r 4'4'–r 4'4' | Month VI2, (the 1st of which was identical with) the 30th (of the preceding month), sunset to moonset: 12°, measured; it was bright [...] ... Night of the 2nd, the moon was 3 cubits in front of <β> Scorpii. Night of the 3rd, the moon was 1 cubit in front of α Scorpii. Night of the 4th, |
| Reverse [4:5] r 5'5'–r 5'5' | the moon was 1/2 cubit behind ϑ Ophiuchi. [... Night of the 7th, beginning of the night, the moon was] 2/3 cubit [in front of?] the lower star of the horn of Capricorn. Night of the 8th, beginning of the night, the moon was 2 cubits in front of γ |
| Reverse [5:6] r 6'6'–r 6'6' | Capricorni. Night of the 9th, beginning of the ni[ght, the moon was x]+2/3 cubit [behind δ Capricorni.] Night of the 11th, last part of the night, Venus was 4 cubits below ϑ Leonis. The 10th, equinox. Night of the 13th, last part of the night, the moon |
| Reverse [6:7] r 7'7'–r 7'7' | stood 2/3 cubit in front of Jupiter to the west. Night of the 14th, [... the moon was] 3 cubits below η Piscium. The 14th, moonset to sunrise: 3° 20'. Night of the 15th, sunset to moonrise: 1° 40'. |
| Reverse [7:8] r 8'8'–r 8'8' | The 15th, sunrise to moonset: 9°, measured. Night of the 16th, last part of the night, the moon was [... in front of η Tauri ...] ... Night of the 17th, last part of the night, Venus was 1 finger above β Virginis. Night of the 18th, last part of the night, the moon was |
| Reverse [8:9] r 9'9'–r 9'9' | 2 1/2 cubits in front of ζ Tauri. [... Night of the 19th, last part of the night, the moon was] 1 2/3 cubits below η Geminorum, the moon being a little back to the west. |
| Reverse [9:10] r 10'10'–r 10'10' | Ni[ght of the 22nd,] last part of the night, the moon was 1 2/3 cubits in front of ε Leonis. [... Ni]ght of the 24th, last part of the night, Mars was 2/3 cubit below γ Virginis. Night of the 25th, last part of the night, the moon was |
| Reverse [10:11] r 11'11'–r 11'11' | 1/2 cubit be[low β] Virginis. Night of the 26th, last part of the night, the moon was [...] below [γ Virginis,] it stood 2 cubits [behind] Venus, 2/3 cubit in front of Mars to the west. Night of the 27th, [last part of the night,] |
| Reverse [11:12] r 12'12'–r 12'12' | [... the moon was] 1/2 cubit [in front of] α Virginis, [it stood ...] in front of Mercury [to the west ... moonrise to sunrise: nn°,] measured. Night of the 29th, Venus was 1/2 cubit below γ Virginis. |
| Reverse [12:13] r 13'13'–r 13'13' | [That month, the equivalent (of 1 shekel of silver was): barley,] 1 pānu 1 sūtu; dates, 2 pānu; mustard, 1 kurru; cress, 2? sūtu 3 qa; sesame, [...; wo]ol, 3 1/2 minas. At that time, Jupiter was in Pisces; Venus [was in Leo,] |
| Reverse [13:14] r 14'14'–r 14'14' | [in the middle of the month, in Virgo; ar]ound the 18th, Mercury’s first appearance in the east in the beginning of Libra; Saturn was in Libra; Mars was in [Virgo.] That [month,] the river level receded 4 fingers, 28 was the na na-gauge. Th[at month? ...] |
| Reverse [14:16] r 15'15'–r 16'16' | [...] entered [Babylon?.] The people of the land [...] in ... in battle in the di[strict? of Eri]du? opposite Esang[il ...] |
| Reverse [15:17] r 16'16'– | [D]iary from month I to the end of month VI₂, year 5[6, king] Antio[chus] |
| Top [0:2] t.e. 1t.e. 1– | [Di]ary from month I to the end of month VI[₂ ...] |
| Left [0:1] l.e. 1l.e. 1–l.e. 1l.e. 1 | [... king] Antiochus. |
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 | ||
| 1 | [MU 56.KAM₂ {m}an]-ti-ʾu-ku-su LUGAL BAR 1 22 DIR muš GE₆ [...] | |
| 2 | [x x x] ⸢GE₆ 5 SAG GE₆ sin ar₂ MAŠ.MAŠ-ša₂-SIPA 1 5/6 KUŠ₃ GE₆ 6 SAG GE₆ sin ⸢ar₂⸣ [MAŠ.MAŠ-ar₂ N N USAN] | |
| 3 | [dele-bat SIG] ŠUR-GIGIR-ša₂-SI 20 SI GE₆ 8 SAG GE₆ sin ina IGI LUGAL 2 KUŠ₃ GE₆ 10 SAG ⸢GE₆⸣ [sin x GIR₃-ar₂-ša₂-A N N ...] | |
| 4 | [x x x] GE₆ 11 SAG GE₆ sin SIG DELE-ša₂-IGI-ABSIN 2 KUŠ₃ sin 1/2 KUŠ₃ ana ŠU₂ LAL GE₆ 12 [SAG GE₆] ⸢sin⸣ ar₂ ⸢SA₄⸣-[ša₂-ABSIN N N ...] | |
| 5 | [x x x x] ⸢DIB⸣ GE₆ 13 10.30 ME muš 13 4.50 na GE₆ 14 7.40 ⸢GE₆⸣ [x] ⸢USAN⸣ AN e is-le₁₀ 2 5/6 KUŠ₃ ina ZALAG₂ sin ina ⸢IGI⸣ | |
| 6 | [MUL₂-MURUB₄]-⸢ša₂⸣-[SAG-GIR₂.TAB N N] ⸢GE₆⸣ 16 USAN dele-bat e MUL₂-IGI-ša₂-še-pit₂-MAŠ.MAŠ 1 2/3 KUŠ₃ ina ZALAG₂ sin [ar₂] MUL₂-KUR-ša₂-KIR₄-šil-PA 3 KUŠ₃ GE₆ 18 USAN ⸢dele⸣-[bat] | |
| 7 | e [MUL₂-ar₂]-ša₂-še-pit₂-MAŠ.MAŠ 1 5/6 KUŠ₃ GE₆ 19 ina ZALAG₂ sin ana GUB₃ MUL₂-SIG-ša₂-SI-MAŠ₂ ⸢TE⸣ ina ZALAG₂ sin ar₂ MUL₂-SIG-ša₂-SI-MAŠ₂ 3 U | |
| 8 | GE₆ 20 ina ZALAG₂ sin ina IGI ⸢MUL₂-IGI⸣-ša₂-SUHUR-MAŠ₂ 1 1/2 KUŠ₃ GE₆⸣ 21 USAN dele-bat ⸢e⸣ MAŠ.MAŠ-ša₂-SIPA 4 1/2 KUŠ₃ GE₆ 23 ŠU₂ 23 ŠU₂.ŠU₂ ⸢IM⸣ [ŠAR₂] | |
| 9 | AN UTAH GE₆ 24 24 ⸢ŠU₂⸣.[ŠU₂] IM ŠAR₂ AN UTAH GE₆ 25 25 DIR AN ⸢DIB⸣ IM ŠAR₂ AN UTAH GU₃ U GE₆ 26 ŠU₂.ŠU₂ 18 KUR DIR NU PAP | |
| 10 | 26 DIR AN DIB GU₃ U MAH AN PISAN MAH DIB 27 GU₄.UD ina ŠU₂ ina GU₄.AN IGI DIR NU PAP GE₆ 29 29 DIR AN DIB AN UTAH | |
| 11 | ITU BI KI.LAM še-im 4(BAN₂) ZU₂ 1(BARIG) 1(BAN₂) 3 qa kas₃ 1(GUR) 1(BARIG) 1(BAN₂) 3 qa sah 3(BAN₂) ŠE.GIŠ.I₃ 3(BAN₂) SIG₂{hi.a} 4 MA.NA a-na 1 GIN₂ KU₃.BABBAR ep₂-šu₂ | |
| 12 | i-nu-šu₂ MUL₂.BABBAR ina zib{me} dele-bat ina MUL₂.MUL₂ ina MURUB₄ ITU ina MAŠ.MAŠ GENNA ina RIN₂ in 27 GU₄.UD ina ŠU₂ ina GU₄.AN IGI AN ina MUL₂.MUL₂ ITU BI ILLU 6 na | |
| 13 | GU₄ 30 13 DIR KALAG NU PAP GE₆ 1 [DIR] ⸢AN⸣ DIB GE₆ 3 DIR AN DIB USAN AN SIG ŠUR-GIGIR-ša₂-SI 1 1/2 KUŠ₃ GE₆ 4 sin ina IGI MAŠ.MAŠ-ar₂ 1/2 KUŠ₃ GE₆ 6 SAG GE₆ sin | |
| 14 | ina IGI LUGAL 3 KUŠ₃ ⸢USAN⸣ [x x x x x] 2 KUŠ₃⸣ GE₆ 7 USAN AN e ŠUR-GIGIR-ša₂-ULU₃ 1 1/2 KUŠ₃ GE₆ 8 SAG GE₆ sin ina IGI GIR₃-ar₂-ša₂-A 3 KUŠ₃ | |
| 15 | [... GE₆ 10 ⸢SAG⸣ GE₆ sin ina IGI SA₄-ša₂-ABSIN 1 5/6 KUŠ₃ USAN GU₄.UD e | |
| 16 | MUL₂-ar₂-[ša₂-še-pit₂-MAŠ.MAŠ N N ... x]+1 KUŠ₃ 12 7.20 ŠU₂ GE₆ 13 USAN dele-bat SIG MAŠ.MAŠ-ar₂ 1 KUŠ₃ ina ZALAG₂ sin ar₂ | |
| 17 | MUL₂-e-[ša₂-SAG-GIR₂.TAB N N ... GE₆ 14 N ME] ⸢USAN⸣ GU₄.UD e MAŠ.MAŠ-ša₂-SIPA 1 1/2 KUŠ₃ GE₆ 15 16.20 GE₆ muš | |
| 18 | [... GE₆ 19 ina ZALAG₂ sin x MUL₂]-ar₂-ša₂-SUHUR-MAŠ₂ 5/6 KUŠ₃ 23 AN ina MAŠ.MAŠ ŠU₂ 23 KAK.BAN ŠU₂ | |
| 19 | [GE₆ 24 ina ZALAG₂ sin x MUL₂-KUR-ša₂-DUR]-⸢nu⸣-nu 1 2/3 KUŠ₃ GE₆ 25 ina ZALAG₂ sin SIG MUL₂-IGI-ša₂-SAG-HUN 5 KUŠ₃ | |
| 20 | [... ina] TIL ITU 1(BARIG) 1(BAN₂) ZU₂ 1(BARIG) 1(BAN₂) 3 qa kas₃ 1(GUR) 1(BARIG) 1(BAN₂) 3 qa sah 3(BAN₂) ŠE.GIŠ 3(BAN₂) | |
| 21 | [...] [...] | |
| r | ||
| 1' | [...] ⸢x⸣ 32 GAR u ⸢ZALAG₂ ina AN⸣.KU₁₀-šu₂ ⸢SI ša₂ PA⸣ [...] | |
| 2' | [...] 2 SI ITU BI KI.LAM še-im 1(BARIG) 1(BAN₂) ZU₂ 1(BARIG) 4(BAN₂) ⸢kas₃ 1(GUR) sah 3(BAN₂) ŠE.GIŠ 4(BAN₂) SIG₂ 4 MA.NA | |
| 3' | [i-nu-šu₂ ... GU₄.UD ina] ŠU₂ ina ABSIN ŠU₂ GENNA ina RIN₂ AN ina A ITU BI ILLU 1/2 KUŠ₃ LAL 27 na ITU BI ZI IR | |
| 4' | KIN.2.KAM₂ 30 12 na muš ⸢KUR₄⸣ [...] [x] ⸢GE₆ 2 sin ina IGI⸣ SAG-GIR₂.TAB 3 KUŠ₃ GE₆ 3 sin ina IGI SI₄ 1 KUŠ₃ GE₆ 4 | |
| 5' | sin ar₂ MUL₂-KUR-ša₂-KIR₄-šil-PA 1/2 KUŠ₃ [... GE₆ 7 SAG GE₆ sin ina IGI] MUL₂-SIG-ša₂-SI-MAŠ₂ 2/3 KUŠ₃ GE₆ 8 SAG GE₆ sin ina IGI | |
| 6' | MUL₂-IGI-ša₂-SUHUR-MAŠ₂ 2 KUŠ₃ GE₆ 9 SAG ⸢GE₆⸣ [sin ar₂ MUL₂-ar₂-ša₂-SUHUR-MAŠ₂ x]+2/3 KUŠ₃ GE₆ 11 ina ZALAG₂ dele-bat SIG GIŠ.KUN-A 4 KUŠ₃ 10 LAL₂-ti₃ GE₆ 13 ina ZALAG₂ sin | |
| 7' | ina IGI MUL₂.BABBAR 2/3 KUŠ₃ ana ŠU₂ GUB GE₆ 14 [... sin] SIG MUL₂-KUR-ša₂-DUR-nu-nu 3 KUŠ₃ 14 3.20 ŠU₂ GE₆ 15 1.40 GE₆ | |
| 8' | 15 9 ⸢na⸣ muš GE₆ 16 ina ZALAG₂ sin [ina IGI MUL₂.MUL₂ N N ...] HI GE₆ 17 ina ZALAG₂ dele-bat e GIR₃-ar₂-ša₂-A 1 SI GE₆ 18 ina ZALAG₂ sin | |
| 9' | ina ⸢IGI⸣ [ŠUR]-GIGIR-ša₂-ULU₃ 2 1/2 KUŠ₃ [... GE₆ 19 ina ZALAG₂ sin] SIG MUL₂-IGI-ša₂-še-pit₂-MAŠ.MAŠ 1 2/3 KUŠ₃ sin i-ṣa ana ŠU₂ LAL | |
| 10' | ⸢GE₆⸣ 22 ina ZALAG₂ sin ina IGI SAG-A 1 2/3 KUŠ₃⸣ [...] ⸢GE₆⸣ 24 ina ZALAG₂ AN SIG DELE-ša₂-IGI-ABSIN 2/3 KUŠ₃ GE₆ 25 ina ZALAG₂ sin | |
| 11' | ⸢SIG⸣ [GIR₃-ar₂]-ša₂-A 1/2 KUŠ₃ GE₆ 26 ina ZALAG₂ sin ⸢SIG⸣ [DELE-ša₂-IGI-ABSIN N N ar₂] dele-bat 2 KUŠ₃ ina IGI AN 2/3 KUŠ₃ ana ŠU₂ GUB GE₆ 27 [ina ZALAG₂] | |
| 12' | [... sin ina IGI] SA₄-ša₂-ABSIN 1/2 KUŠ₃ ina IGI GU₄.UD [N N ana ŠU₂ GUB ... N KUR] muš GE₆ 29 dele-bat SIG DELE-ša₂-IGI-ABSIN 1/2 ⸢KUŠ₃⸣ | |
| 13' | [ITU BI KI.LAM še-im] 1(BARIG) 1(BAN₂) ZU₂ 2(BARIG) PI kas₃ 1 GUR sah 2(BAN₂) 3 qa ŠE.GIŠ [x x] ⸢SIG₂⸣ 3 1/2 MA.NA i-nu-šu₂ MUL₂.BABBAR ina zib{me} dele-⸢bat⸣ [ina A] | |
| 14' | [ina MURUB₄ ITU ina ABSIN] ⸢in⸣ 18 GU₄.UD ina NIM ina SAG RIN₂ IGI GENNA ina RIN₂ AN ina [ABSIN ITU] BI ILLU 4 SI LAL 28 na ⸢ITU⸣ [BI x x] | |
| 15' | [... E]{ki} KU₄-ub {lu₂}UN{meš} KUR ina i-nu-tu₂ ina ME₃ ina KI-⸢ti₃⸣ [ERI].DU₁₀{ki} ana tar-ṣu E₂.SAG.⸢GIL₂⸣ [x x x] | |
| 16' | [na]-⸢ṣar⸣ ša₂ gi-ne₂-e ša₂ TA BAR EN TIL KIN.2.KAM₂ MU 56.[KAM₂ {m]}an-ti-ʾu-[ku-su LUGAL] | |
| t.e. | ||
| 1 | [na-ṣar] ša₂ gi-<ne₂>-e ša₂ TA BAR EN TIL KIN.2.KAM₂ ...] | |
| l.e. | ||
| 1 | [... x].KAM₂ {m}an-ti-ʾu-ku-⸢su⸣ [LUGAL] | |
Sources & licences
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Cite the original edition and translator. Page generated by Unread Atlas from the public corpus export of 2026-10-11.