-158B (X301582)
Astronomical Diary, Hellenistic, Babylon · c. 330 BCE–141 BCE
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| Designation | -158B |
|---|---|
| ID | X301582 |
| Museum no. | BM 45898 |
| 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/adart3 · 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 15]3, king Demetrius. Month IV, the 1st (of which followed the 30th of the preceding month), sunset to moonset: 23° [...] measured? [...] |
| Obverse [1:2] o 22–o 22 | [nn cubits, the moo]n being 1/2 cubit high to the north, it stood 3 cubits 8 fingers in front of Venus to the west [...] blew. Night of the 2nd, the m[oon was] |
| Obverse [2:3] o 33–o 33 | 2 cubits [behind ρ Leo]nis, the moon being 2/3 cubit high to the north. The 2nd, the north wind blew. Night [of the 3rd, ...] 1 cubit. Night of the 4th, beginning of the ni[ght,] |
| Obverse [3:4] o 44–o 44 | [the moon was] 1 1/2 cubits [... γ] Virginis; first part of the night, Venus was 2/3 cubit above ρ Leonis. Night of the 5th, beginning of the night, the moon was 3 cubits above α |
| Obverse [4:5] o 55–o 55 | [Virginis], the moon having passed a little to the east. The 5th, the north wind blew. Night of the 6th, begi[nning of the ni]ght, the moon was 3 1/2 cubits in front of α Librae. The 6th, the north wind blew. |
| Obverse [5:6] o 66–o 66 | [Night of the 7th,] beginning of the night, the moon was 1 cubit behind β Librae, the moon being 1 cubit low to the south. The 7th, the north wind blew. Night of the 8th, beginning of the night, the moon was [nn cubits] behind β Scorpii, |
| Obverse [6:7] o 77–o 77 | the moon being 1 cubit high to the north. The 8th, the north wind bl[ew. Night] of the 9th, beginning of the night, the moon was 1 1/2 cubits in front of θ Ophiuchi, the moon being 1/2 cubit high to the north. |
| Obverse [7:8] o 88–o 88 | [The 9th, clouds were] in the sky, the north wind blew. Night of the 10th (and) the 10th, clouds were in the sky, the north wind blew. Night of the 11th, beginning of the night, clouds were in the sky; last part of the night, clouds crossed the sky. The 11th, clouds were in the sky, the north wind blew. |
| Obverse [8:9] o 99–o 99 | [Night of the 12th, first part of the night,] Venus was [x]+1/2 cubits below θ Leonis; gusty north wind. The 12th, gusty north wind. Night of the 13th, moonrise to sunset: 8° 40', measured (despite) mist; beginning of the night, the moon was |
| Obverse [9:10] o 1010–o 1010 | [x]+1 cubit [behind β Capricorni], the moon being [nn cubits] low to the south. The 13th, moonset to sunrise: 1°, measured; lunar eclipse which was omitted; at 58° after sunrise; all day |
| Obverse [10:11] o 1111–o 1111 | [...] gusty [...] winds blew. Night of the 14th, sunset to moonrise: 2° 50'; I did not watch; last part of the night, the moon was 2 fingers behind δ Capricorni, |
| Obverse [11:12] o 1212–o 1212 | it stood [nn] cubits [behind Saturn] to the east; all night the north wind blew. The 14th, sunrise to moonset: 12°, measured; all day clouds were in the sky, gusty north and west storms blew. |
| Obverse [12:13] o 1313–o 1313 | [... cl]ouds were in the sky, the north wind blew. Night of the 16th (and) the 16th, clouds were in the sky, the north wind blew. Night of the 17th (and) the 17th, the north wind blew. Around the 18th, Saturn’s acronychal rising; I did not watch. |
| Obverse [13:14] o 1414–o 1414 | [Night of the 19th, last part of the ni]ght, the moon was 1 cubit in front of η Piscium, the moon being 5 cubits low to the south, it stood 1 cubit behind Mars to the east. |
| Obverse [14:15] o 1515–o 1515 | [...] the north wind blew. Night of the 20th, the north wind blew; last part of the night, the moon was 7 cubits below α Arietis. Around the 20th, Sirius’ first appearance; I did not watch. |
| Obverse [15:16] o 1616–o 1616 | [Night of the 21st, last part of the night, the moo]n was 3 1/2 cubits in front of η Tauri; {the moon} first part of the night, Venus was 5 cubits(!) above β Virginis. |
| Obverse [16:17] o 1717–o 1717 | [Night of the 22nd, ...] blew?; last part of the night, the moon was 3 cubits in front of α Tauri, the moon being 1/2 cubit high to the north. The 22nd, the north wind blew; in the afternoon, |
| Obverse [17:18] o 1818–o 1818 | [... Night of the 23rd, last part of the night], the moon was 2 1/2 cubits in front of β Tauri, the moon being 5 cubits low to the south. The 23rd, the north wind blew. Night of the 24th, |
| Obverse [18:19] o 1919–o 1919 | [last part of the night, the moon was] 2 cubits [in front of η Geminor]um, the moon being 1/2 cubit low to the south, it stood 2 cubits in front of Jupiter to the west, the moon being 1 cubit low to the south. |
| Obverse [19:20] o 2020–o 2020 | [...] blew?. Night of the 25th, last part of the night, the moon was 1 1/2 cubits behind γ Geminorum, the moon being 2 cubits high to the north. |
| Obverse [20:21] o 2121–o 2121 | [...] became stationary [...] being 2? 1/2 cubits low to the south. |
| Obverse [21:23] o 2222– | [... Mercury’s] first appearance [in the east in Cancer;] it was bright (and) high, rising (of Mercury) to sunrise: 17°. |
| Reverse [1:2] r 22–r 22 | [... Night of the 12th, beginning of the night, the moon was] 2 cubits [in front of γ Capri]corni, [it stood] 1 1/2 cubits behind Saturn |
| Reverse [2:3] r 33–r 33 | [... Night of the 13th, beginning of the night, the moon was] 2 1/2 cubits [behind] δ Capricorni; the north wind blew. The 13th, moonset to sunrise: 10°. |
| Reverse [3:4] r 44–r 44 | [...] sunrise to moonset: [x]+1°, measured (despite) mist; the north wind blew. Night of the 15th, sunset to moonrise: 8°; the north wind blew. |
| Reverse [4:5] r 55–r 55 | [... Venus was] 1 cubit [above] α Virginis. [Around the 15th], Mercury’s last appearance in the east in Leo; the north wind blew. Night of the 16th (and) the 16th, the north wind blew. Night of the 17th, the north wind blew; |
| Reverse [5:6] r 66–r 66 | [last part of the night, the moon was] 3 1/2 cubits [in fro]nt of η Piscium, the moon being 4 1/2 cubits low to the south, 1/2 cubit below Mars, the moon being 1/2 cubit back to the west. The 17th, the north wind blew. |
| Reverse [6:7] r 77–r 77 | [Night of the 18th,] the north wind blew; last part of the night, the moon was 5 cubits below β Arietis, the moon being 1/2 cubit back to the west. Night of the 19th (and) the 19th, the north wind blew. Night of the 20th, the north wind blew; |
| Reverse [7:8] r 88–r 88 | [last part of the night, the m]oon was 4 cubits below η Tauri, the moon having passed a little to the east. The 20th, the north wind blew. Night of the 21st, the north wind blew; last part of the night, the moon was 1/2 cubit above α Tauri, the moon having passed 1/2 cubit to |
| Reverse [8:9] r 99–r 99 | the east. The 21st, the north wind blew. Night of the 22nd, the north wind blew; last part of the night, the moon was 1 1/2 cubits below ζ Tauri. The 22nd, the north wind blew. Night of the 23rd, the north wind blew; |
| Reverse [9:10] r 1010–r 1010 | [last part of the] night, the moon was 2 cubits above γ Geminorum, the moon being 1/2 cubit back to the west, 1 cubit below Jupiter. <The 23rd?,> the north wind blew. Night of the 24th, the north wind blew; last part of the night, the moon was |
| Reverse [10:11] r 1111–r 1111 | 4 1/2 cubits below α Geminorum, the moon having passed 1/2 cubit to the east. The 24th, the north wind blew. Night of the 25th, the north wind blew; last part of the night, the moon was 1 1/2 cubits in front of δ Cancri, |
| Reverse [11:12] r 1212–r 1212 | the moon being 1 1/2 cubits high to the north. The 25th, the north wind blew. Night of the 26th, the north wind blew; last part of the night, the moon was 4 cubits below ε Leonis. The 26th, the north wind blew. Night of the 27th, the north wind blew; |
| Reverse [12:13] r 1313–r 1313 | last part of the night, the moon was 2 cubits behind α Leonis, the moon being 1 cubit high to the north. The 27th, moonrise to sunrise: 22°, measured; the north wind blew. Night of the 28th (and) the 28th, the north wind blew. Night of the 29th (and) the 29th, the north wind blew. |
| Reverse [13:14] r 1414–r 1414 | That month, the equivalent was: barley, in the beginning of the month, 2 pānu 3 sūtu, in the middle of the month, 2 pānu 4? sūtu 2? qa, at the end of the month, 2 pānu 4 sūtu; dates, 2 pānu 4 sūtu; mustard, 3 kurru; |
| Reverse [14:15] r 1515–r 1515 | cress, 5 sūtu; sesame, 2 sūtu 3 qa, at the end of the month, 2 sūtu 2 qa; wool, 3 minas. At that time, Jupiter was in Gemini; |
| Reverse [15:16] r 1616–r 1616 | Venus, until the middle of the month, was in Virgo, until the end of the month, in Libra; Mercury, in the beginning of the month, was in Cancer; around the 15th, Mercury’s last appearance in the east in Leo; Saturn was in Capricorn; |
| Reverse [16:17] r 1717–r 1717 | Mars was in Pisces. That month, the river level receded 8 fingers, total: 30 was the na (gauge). That month, on the 6th day, the satrap of Babylonia from Seleucia, |
| Reverse [17:18] r 1818–r 1818 | [which is on] the Tigris, entered Babylon. On the 9th day, merrymaking took place everywhere. The administrator of Esangil |
| Reverse [18:19] r 1919–r 1919 | [... the] dudê-[gate] of Esangil opposite the Lamassu-rabi gate, the representative of the administrator of Esangil |
| Reverse [19:20] r 2020–r 2020 | [...] ... they went. On the 17th day, offerings at the entering of Madānu and the entering of Bēltiya of the gate [...] |
| Reverse [20:21] r 2121–r 2121 | [...] ... to unjustice against them. The offering did not take place. That month, [...] |
| Reverse [21:23] r 2222– | [...] made ... On the 19th day the satrap of Babylonia |
| Top [0:1] t.e. 1t.e. 1–t.e. 1t.e. 1 | went out [from Babylon] to Seleucia which is on the Tigris. |
| Top [1:3] t.e. 22– | [Month VI,] (the 1st of which was identical with) the 30th (of the preceding month), sunset to moonset: 12°?, measured (despite) mist; it was high to the sun. |
| Left [0:1] l.e. 1l.e. 1–l.e. 1l.e. 1 | [Year] 153 [...] |
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 1 ME] 53.KAM₂ {m}de-meṭ-ri LUGAL ŠU 1 23 na-⸢su⸣ [...] ⸢muš⸣ [...] | |
| 2 | [N KUŠ₃] ⸢sin⸣ 1/2 KUŠ₃ ana SI NIM ina IGI dele-bat 3 KUŠ₃ 8 U ana ŠU₂ GUB [...] GIN GE₆ 2 ⸢sin⸣ [ar₂ MUL₂ TUR] | |
| 3 | [(MUL₂-TUR)-ša₂-4-KUŠ₃]-ar₂-LUGAL 2 KUŠ₃ sin 2/3 KUŠ₃ ana SI ⸢NIM⸣ 2 SI GIN GE₆ 3 ...] 1 KUŠ₃⸣ GE₆ 4 SAG ⸢GE₆⸣ | |
| 4 | [sin x DELE]-⸢ša₂⸣-IGI-ABSIN 1 1/2 KUŠ₃ USAN dele-bat e MUL₂-TUR-ša₂-4-⸢KUŠ₃-ar₂-LUGAL⸣ 2/3 KUŠ₃ GE₆ 5 SAG GE₆ sin e ⸢SA₄⸣ | |
| 5 | [(SA₄)-ša₂]-⸢ABSIN⸣ 3 KUŠ₃ sin i-ṣa ana NIM DIB 5 SI GIN GE₆ 6 ⸢SAG GE₆⸣ sin ina IGI RIN₂-ša₂-ULU₃ 3 1/2 KUŠ₃ 6 SI GIN | |
| 6 | [GE₆ 7 SAG GE₆ sin ar₂ RIN₂-ša₂-SI 1 KUŠ₃ sin 1 KUŠ₃ ana ULU₃ SIG 7 SI GIN GE₆ 8 SAG GE₆ sin ar₂ MUL₂-e-ša₂-SAG-GIR₂.TAB | |
| 7 | [N KUŠ₃] ⸢sin⸣ 1 KUŠ₃ ana SI NIM 8 SI ⸢GIN⸣ [GE₆] 9 SAG GE₆ sin ina IGI MUL₂-KUR-ša₂-KIR₄-šil-PA 1 1/2 KUŠ₃ sin 1/2 KUŠ₃ ana SI NIM | |
| 8 | 9 DIR] ⸢AN ZA⸣ SI GIN GE₆ 10 10 ⸢DIR AN ZA SI GIN⸣ GE₆ 11 SAG GE₆ DIR AN ZA ina ZALAG₂ DIR AN DIB 11 DIR AN ZA SI GIN | |
| 9 | [GE₆ 12 USAN] dele-bat SIG GIŠ.⸢KUN⸣-[A x]+1/2 KUŠ₃ SI ŠAR₂ 12 SI ŠAR₂ GE₆ 13 8.40 ME a-kam₂ muš SAG GE₆ sin | |
| 10 | [ar₂ SI-MAŠ₂ x]+1 KUŠ₃ ⸢sin⸣ [N KUŠ₃] ⸢ana⸣ ULU₃ SIG 13 1 ŠU₂ muš AN.KU₁₀ ⸢sin⸣ ša₂ DIB in 58 ME NIM-a kal ME | |
| 11 | [...] ⸢x ŠAR₂{meš⸣} GIN{meš} GE₆ 14 2.50 GE₆ NU PAP ina ZALAG₂ ⸢sin⸣ ar₂ MUL₂-ar₂-ša₂-SUHUR-MAŠ₂ 2 U | |
| 12 | [ar₂ GENNA N] ⸢KUŠ₃⸣ ana NIM GUB kal GE₆ SI GIN 14 12 na muš kal ME DIR AN ⸢ZA⸣ me-he-e SI u MAR ŠAR₂{meš} GIN{meš} | |
| 13 | [x x x] ⸢DIR⸣ AN ZA SI GIN GE₆ 16 16 DIR AN ZA SI GIN GE₆ 17 17 SI ⸢GIN in⸣ 18 GENNA ana ME E-a NU PAP | |
| 14 | [GE₆ 19 ina] ⸢ZALAG₂⸣ sin ina IGI MUL₂-KUR-ša₂-DUR-nu-nu 1 KUŠ₃ sin 5 KUŠ₃ ana ULU₃ SIG ar₂ AN 1 ⸢KUŠ₃ ana NIM⸣ GUB | |
| 15 | [...] SI GIN GE₆ 20 SI GIN ina ZALAG₂ sin SIG MUL₂-ar₂-ša₂-SAG-HUN 7 KUŠ₃ in 20 KAK.BAN IGI NU PAP | |
| 16 | [GE₆ 21 ina ZALAG₂] ⸢sin⸣ ina IGI MUL₂.MUL₂ 3 1/2 KUŠ₃ USAN dele-bat e GIR₃-ar₂-ša₂-A 5 KUŠ₃ | |
| 17 | [GE₆ 22 ...] GIN ina ZALAG₂ sin ina IGI is-le₁₀ 3 KUŠ₃ sin 1/2 KUŠ₃ ana SI NIM 22 SI GIN ina KIN.SIG | |
| 18 | [... GE₆ 23 ina ZALAG₂] sin ina IGI ŠUR-GIGIR-ša₂-SI 2 1/2 KUŠ₃ sin 5 KUŠ₃ ana ULU₃ SIG 23 SI GIN GE₆ 24 | |
| 19 | [ina ZALAG₂ sin ina IGI MUL₂-IGI-ša₂-še-pit₂-MAŠ].⸢MAŠ⸣ 2 KUŠ₃ sin 1/2 KUŠ₃ ana ULU₃ SIG ina IGI MUL₂.BABBAR 2 KUŠ₃ ana ŠU₂ GUB sin 1 KUŠ₃ ana ULU₃ SIG | |
| 20 | [...] ⸢GIN GE₆ 25 ina ZALAG₂⸣ sin ar₂ MAŠ.MAŠ-ša₂-SIPA 1 1/2 KUŠ₃ sin 2 KUŠ₃ ana SI NIM | |
| 21 | [...] 2 1/2 KUŠ₃ ana ULU₃ SIG UŠ | |
| 22 | [... GU₄.UD ina NIM ina ALLA] IGI ⸢KUR⸣ NIM-a 17 ⸢na-su⸣ | |
| r | ||
| 1 | [...] ⸢x x x⸣ | |
| 2 | [... GE₆ 12 SAG GE₆ sin ina IGI MUL₂-IGI-ša₂]-⸢SUHUR⸣-MAŠ₂ 2 KUŠ₃ ar₂ GENNA 1 1/2 KUŠ₃ | |
| 3 | [... GE₆ 13 SAG GE₆ sin ar₂ MUL₂]-⸢ar₂-ša₂-SUHUR⸣-MAŠ₂ 2 1/2 KUŠ₃ SI GIN 13 10 UŠ ŠU₂ | |
| 4 | [... x]+1 na a-kam₂ muš SI GIN GE₆ 15 8 GE₆ SI GIN | |
| 5 | [... dele-bat e] ⸢SA₄⸣-ša₂-ABSIN 1 ⸢KUŠ₃⸣ [in 15 ⸢GU₄⸣.UD ina NIM ina A ŠU₂ SI GIN GE₆ 16 16 SI GIN GE₆ 17 SI GIN | |
| 6 | [ina ZALAG₂ sin ina] ⸢IGI⸣ MUL₂-KUR-ša₂-DUR-nu-nu 3 1/2 KUŠ₃ sin 4 1/2 KUŠ₃ ana ULU₃ SIG SIG AN 1/2 KUŠ₃ sin 1/2 KUŠ₃ ana ŠU₂ LAL 17 SI GIN | |
| 7 | [GE₆ 18 SI GIN ina ZALAG₂ sin SIG MUL₂-IGI-ša₂-SAG-HUN 5 KUŠ₃ sin 1/2 KUŠ₃ ana ŠU₂ LAL GE₆ 19 19 SI GIN GE₆ 20 SI GIN | |
| 8 | [ina ZALAG₂] ⸢sin⸣ SIG MUL₂.MUL₂ 4 KUŠ₃ sin i-ṣa ana NIM DIB 20 SI GIN GE₆ 21 SI GIN ina ZALAG₂ sin e is-le₁₀ 1/2 KUŠ₃ sin 1/2 KUŠ₃ ana | |
| 9 | ⸢NIM⸣ DIB 21 SI GIN GE₆ 22 SI GIN ina ZALAG₂ sin SIG ŠUR-GIGIR-ša₂-ULU₃ 1 1/2 KUŠ₃ 22 SI GIN GE₆ 23 SI GIN | |
| 10 | [ina] ⸢ZALAG₂⸣ sin e MAŠ.MAŠ-ša₂-SIPA 2 KUŠ₃ sin 1/2 KUŠ₃ ana ŠU₂ LAL SIG MUL₂.BABBAR 1 KUŠ₃ 23 SI GIN GE₆ 24 SI GIN ina ZALAG₂ sin SIG | |
| 11 | [MAŠ].MAŠ-IGI 4 1/2 KUŠ₃ sin 1/2 KUŠ₃ ana NIM DIB 24 SI GIN GE₆ 25 SI GIN ina ZALAG₂ sin ina IGI MUL₂-ar₂-ša₂-ALLA-ša₂-ULU₃ 1 1/2 KUŠ₃ | |
| 12 | ⸢sin⸣ 1 1/2 KUŠ₃ ana SI NIM 25 SI GIN GE₆ 26 SI GIN ina ZALAG₂ sin SIG SAG-A 4 KUŠ₃ 26 SI GIN GE₆ 27 SI GIN | |
| 13 | ina ZALAG₂ sin ar₂ LUGAL 2 KUŠ₃ sin 1 KUŠ₃ ana SI NIM 27 22 KUR muš SI GIN GE₆ 28 28 SI GIN GE₆ 29 29 SI GIN | |
| 14 | ITU BI KI.LAM še-im ina SAG ITU 2(BARIG) 3(BAN₂) ina MURUB₄ ITU 2 (BARIG) 4(BAN₂) 2 qa ina TIL ITU 2(BARIG) 4(BAN₂) ZU₂ 2(BARIG) 4(BAN₂) kas₃ 3 GUR | |
| 15 | sah-le₁₀ 5(BAN₂) ŠE.GIŠ.I₃ 2(BAN₂) 3 qa ina TIL ITU 2(BAN₂) 2 qa SIG₂{hi.a} 3 MA.NA i-nu-šu₂ MUL₂.BABBAR ina MAŠ.MAŠ | |
| 16 | dele-bat EN MURUB₄ ITU ina ABSIN EN TIL ⸢ITU⸣ ina RIN₂ GU₄.UD ina SAG ITU ina ALLA in 15 GU₄.UD ina NIM ina A ŠU₂ GENNA ina MAŠ₂ | |
| 17 | ⸢AN⸣ ina zib{me} ITU BI ILLU 8 U LAL PAP 30 na ITU BI U₄ 6 {lu₂}mu-ma-ʾi-ir KUR URI{ki} TA {uru}se-lu-ke-ʾa-a | |
| 18 | [ša₂ ana] ⸢UGU {id₂⸣}IDIGNA ana E{ki} KU₄ U₄ 9 ni-gu-tu₂ ka-liš GAR {lu₂}ŠA₃.TAM E₂.SAG.GIL₂ | |
| 19 | [... KA₂-du]-⸢de⸣-e ša₂ E₂.SAG.GIL₂ ana tar-ṣi KA₂-{d}LAMA-ra-bi ša₂ ana ku-um {lu₂}ŠA₃.TAM E₂.SAG.GIL₂ | |
| 20 | [...] ⸢x⸣{meš} GIN-uʾ U₄ 17 NIDBA{meš} ina KU₄ {d}DI.KUD u KU₄ {d}GAŠAN-ia₂ ša₂ KA₂ [x x] | |
| 21 | [...] ana muh-hi piš-ki-⸢šu₂-nu⸣ [x x]-lu-u₂ NIDBA ul ša₂-kin ITU BI ⸢x⸣ [x x] | |
| 22 | [...] ⸢x x x x x x⸣ DU₃-uʾ U₄ 19 {lu₂}mu-ma-ʾi-ir KUR [URI{ki]} | |
| t.e. | ||
| 1 | [TA E]{ki} ana {uru}se-lu-ke-ʾa-a ša₂ ana muh-hi {id₂}IDIGNA E₃ | |
| 2 | [KIN] 30 12 na-su a-kam₂ muš ana šamaš₂ NIM | |
| l.e. | ||
| 1 | [MU] 1 ME 53.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.