The Seleucid era lunar eclipse Oct 3, 145 BCE (revised date)

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Created 5941_[(_?_)]13 23 2027 [2011-04-27]

Last edited 5941_[(_?_)]13 24 2027 [2011-04-28]

The Lunar Eclipse of the Seleucid Era

Oct 3, 145 BCE

Abstract:

Please find my abstract & considerations below the table!

Quoting A. T. Olmstead, Cuneiform Texts and Hellenistic Chronology:

“Mithradates I conquered Seleucia before the lunar^c eclipse of year 171, Duzu 13 (July 22, 141 B.C.); presumably, therefore, the enthronement was Simannu 28 (July 3,º 141 B.C.). If the following reference to Nicator is to the captivity of Demetrius, this took place Ululu 3 (September 21, 141 B.C.) or an equivalent month later. Another astronomical document with data for Kislimu and Tabitu of this year (from December 5, 141 B.C. to February 1, 140 B.C.) mentions the king's departure to Arqania (Hyrcania), a battle of the Elamite before Apam'a (Apameia) on the river Silhu (Sellas of Messene).^65
“

Bill Thayer’s original footnotes:

^C The printed text has "solar eclipse" here; there was no solar eclipse on this date, however. Checking with Oppolzer's Canon der Finsternisse and Bryant Tuckerman's Planetary, Lunar, and Solar Positions A.D. 2 to A.D. 1649 At Five-day and Ten-day Intervals (The American Philosophical Society, Philadelphia, 1962), I find that there was a solar eclipse on July 8, and a full moon on July 22, so a lunar eclipse is very, very likely.[1] At any rate, if eclipse there was, it was a lunar, not a solar eclipse.

⁶⁵ Pinches, Old Testament, pp484, 553; Moses, pp338 f.

(A. T. Olmstead, Cuneiform Texts and Hellenistic Chronology, Classical Philology, Vol. 32, No. 1 (Jan. 1937,) pp 1-14.)

Legend: Re “Year 171” Babylonian reckoning		Table Listing all Lunar Eclipses visible from the Baghdad area from 145 BCE – 140 BCE									Legend: Re Lunar eclipse visibility
Not possible											Not visible
		Baghdad area highest mountain horizon (Starry Night Backyard 3.1.2 local solar time)
Possible											Visible
#	Seleucid era reckoning (In terms of the Scripture calendar reckoning Year beginning Tishri 22)		Seleucid era reckoning (In terms of the Babylonian calendar reckoning Year beginning Nisan 1)	Julian date	Sunset	Sunrise	Penumbral shadow	Umbral shadow	Eclipse magnitude	Comments & Considerations
1	Abib 170		Nisan 170 or 171	Apr 10, 145 BCE		05:30:47	04:47-after moonset (05:41:48)	N/A: After moonset (05:41:48)
2	Tishri 170		Tishri 170 or 171	Oct 3, 145 BCE	17:45:11		Before moonrise (17:36:05) -21:05	17:38-19:52	Umbral magnitude: 0.4880	The Akkadian ‘Duzu’ and the Jewish ‘Tishri’ are similar sounding words, idem sonans; ‘Duzu’ may have been mistaken for the Macedonian month Daisius, the moon of May
3	Adar 171		Adar 171 or 172	Feb 17, 143 BCE	17:28:44		Before moonrise (17:28:44) -22:53	18:40-21:41	Umbral magnitude: 0.8744	I see no correlation between ‘Duzu’ and ‘Adar’
4	172		Adar 172 or 173	Feb 7, 142 BCE		06:49:38	04:50-after moonset (07:00:00)	05:48-after moonset (07:00:00)	Total eclipse: 06:47-after moonset (07:00:00)
5	173		Adar 173 or 174	Jan 27, 141 BCE	17:25:50		20:58-01:16	22:20-23:53	Umbral magnitude: 0.2549

Abstract & considerations:

Given that in those days only lunar months were being used, it follows that Duzu 13 can not be any day close to New Moon day. Accordingly, this original eclipse reference cannot apply to any solar eclipse, but must necessarily be a lunar eclipse reference. Indeed, recognizing the secret Rabbinical associations between the first observed full moon after sunrise and the 13^th day of the month, this “Duzu 13” reference is very interesting!

Per My prior studies I have already defined the Seleucid regnal years in terms of the Scriptural calendar and in terms of the Olympiad calendar (based upon Josephus’ statements and references.) However, I have yet to determine the Babylonian regnal years, which, depending upon the recognized time of accession, could begin (on Nisan 1) half a year before or half a year subsequent to the beginning of the Scriptural year. Thus the optional year numbers within column #3 above.

Recognizing that “Duzu 13” may well be mistakenly associated with the month Tammuz, and that the real hard facts of life takes precedence over all other considerations, I now turn to Fred Espenak’s NASA lunar eclipse pages in order to determine all lunar eclipses that could possibly fit the eclipse referenced by Olmstead above. I am recognizing first of all that the lunar eclipse of July 22, 141 BCE, as suggested by Olmstead and Bill Thayer both, could not possibly have been seen from anywhere in the Middle East, Europe, or Africa, and that that lunar eclipse was only of a very miniscule magnitude (1.61%,) it was not likely noticed by anyone anywhere, and can be safely ruled out. (Neither are there any other lunar eclipses in 140 BCE that would fit the conventional dating of the Seleucid Empire.)

Notice: The eclipse is not visible

within the dark area on the maps!

Notice also that “U. Mag. = 0.0161”

Accordingly, I am free to determine the date of this lunar eclipse record according to the best available evidence to me at this time. Seeing (cf. the above table!) that there are only two lunar eclipses that are both visible and that match the year given, “year 171,” I now turn to the name ‘Duzu.’ Recognizing that the basis given for associating Duzu with Tammuz is the similarities within the name itself, I find no reason for not likewise comparing the name Duzu with the name Tishri, which I find being even more of an idem sonans than is Tammuz!

Accordingly, if I am not mistaken, I have now discovered a lunar eclipse basis for establishing also the Akkadian / Babylonian reckoning of the Seleucid regnal years! That is, Duzu 13, in the Seleucid year 171, must be associated with none other than the October 3, 145 BCE partial lunar eclipse, which day, Duzu 13, began at sunset of that day, and which lunar eclipse would therefore necessarily have been associated with the Rabbinical 13^th day of the month.

That is, given that the first full moon after sunrise would necessarily have been that of October 4, 145 BCE. The Scriptural New Moon, however, was being based upon the first observed New Moon crescent and, accordingly, this lunar eclipse would have been reckoned as falling on Tishri 14 (or even 15 if the weather was not favorable,) Scriptural reckoning.[2]

Conclusion:

The eclipse of Duzu 13, in the Seleucid year 171, was almost certainly none other than the October 3, 145 BCE partial lunar eclipse.

Thanks to this eclipse discovery I now have not only the Scriptural and Olympiad reckonings for the Seleucid era, but also the Babylonian reckoning!

Praise the Lord of Hosts, the Ancient of Days!

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[1] ToL note: The only problem: The July 22, 141 BCE lunar eclipse was not visible anywhere within Europe, the Middle East, or Africa! Furthermore, it’s maximum magnitude was no more than 1.61%, which is practically the same as invisible to any normal observer! Cf. my correspondence re this with Bill Thayer…

[2] Starry Night Backyard Sep 19, 145 BCE Baghdad horizon sunset: 18:08:17; moonset: 18:21:37; lag: 13 min 20 seconds; illumination: 0.31% è New Moon crescent first visible at sunset Sep 20, 145 BCE. (Cf. this link!)