Essays Relating To The History Of

Occidental Constellations and

Star Names to the Classical Period

Mesopotamian Star Lists and Star Names in the First Millennium BCE by Gary D. Thompson

Copyright © 2011-2014 by Gary D. Thompson

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Mesopotamian Star Lists and Star Names in the First Millennium BCE

Chronology:

(1) The Late Assyrian Period (circa 900-600 BCE)

(2) The Neo-Babylonian (Chaldean) Period (626-539 BCE)

(3) The Persian (Achaemenid) Period (539-331 BCE)

(4) Macedonian Period (331-circa 275 BCE)

(5) Seleucid (Hellenistic) Period (275 BCE - 116 CE)

=========================================

Some Late 2nd-Millennium Stars

Example: Star List/Star Catalogue (Select Mul.Apin Stars/Constellations).

Example: The Circumpolar Stars And Constellations.

Source: Mul Apin by Hermann Hunger and David Pingree (1989).

In MUL.APIN six circumpolar stars are counted in the Path of Enlil. Since the Paths of Enlil, Anu, and Ea are defined by the arcs on the eastern horizon over which the stars, Sun, Moon, and planets rise, the circumpolar stars ought not to be counted among the stars of Enlil.

1.                  (15) The Wagon. Ursa Major.

2.                  (16) The Fox. 80-86 Ursae Maioris?

3.                  (17) The Ewe. Northeastern part of Bootes?

4.                  (18) The Hitched Yoke. a Draconis?

5.                  (19) The Wagon of Heaven. Ursa Minor.

6.                  (20) The Heir of the Sublime Temple. a Ursae Minoris?

Example: Stars in the Path of the Moon.

Source: Science Awakening II: The Birth of Astronomy by Bartel van der Waerden (1974).

The Stars and Constellations in the Path of the Moon.

1.                  MUL.MUL

2.                  ^mulGUD.AN.NA

3.                  ^mulSIBA.ZI.AN.NA

4.                  ^mulSHU.GI

5.                  ^mulGAM

6.                  ^mulMASH.TAB.BA.GAL.GAL

7.                  ^mulAL.LUL

8.                  ^mulUR.GU.LA

9.                  ^mulAB.SIN

10.              ^mulzi.ba.ni.tum

11.              ^mulGIR.TAB

12.              ^mulPA.BIL.SAG

13.              ^mulSUHUR.MASH

14.              ^mulGU.LA

15.              zibbati^mesh

16.              ^mulSIM.MAH

17.              ^mulA-nu-ti-tum

18.              ^mulLU.HUN.GA

The number 18 is not quite certain because the "tails" zibbati^mesh are probably to be taken together with both the following names ("tails of SHIM.MAH and Anunitum).

If we omit the six names GUD.AN.NA (Taurus), SIBA.ZI.AN.NA (Orion), SHU.GI (Perseus + and northern part of Taurus?), GAM (Auriga or Capella), SHIM.MAH (south-west part of Pisces) and Anunitum (north-east part of Pisces), those remaining are exactly the Babylonian names of the later signs of the zodiac, beginning with Taurus (MUL.MUL, actually Pleiades), and continuing in sequence to Aries (LU.HUN.GA).

In later times the zodiacal signs were named after the constellations they contained. In the beginning there were certain variations: the sign of Taurus could be denoted equally well by the names MUL.MUL (Pleiades), GUD.AN.NA (Taurus), or is li-e (Hyades - Aldebaran); it was only later that the names became standardised.

Example: Ziqpu Star List.

Source: Science Awakening II: The Birth of Astronomy by Bartel van der Waerden (1974).

The ziqpu stars lie in the path of Enlil. (Some) Ziqpu stars listed in Mul.Apin.

SHU.PA

BAL.UR.A

AN.GUB.BA^mesh

UR.KU.UZA

UD.KA.DUH.A

LU.LIM

SHU.GI

GAM

MASH.TAB.BA.GAL.GAL

AL.LUL

UR.GU.LA

ERU

HE.GAL.A.A

Source: Science Awakening II: The Birth of Astronomy by Bartel van der Waerden (1974).

Month 1          day 1 LU.HUNGA rises.

                       day 20 GAM rises.

Month 2          day 1 MUL.MUL rises.

                       day 20 is li-e rises.

Month 3          day 10 SIBA.ZI.AN.NA and MASH.TAR.BA.GAL.GAL rise.

Month 4          day 5 MASH.TAB.BA.TUR.TUR and AL.LUL rise.

                       day 15 KAK.SI.DI, MUSH and UR.GU.LA rise.

Month 5          day 5 BAN and LUGAL rise.

Month 6          day 10 NUN^ki and UGA rise.

                       day 15 SHU.PA rises.

                       day 25 AB.SIN rises.

Month 7          day 15 zibanitu, UR.IDIM, EN.TE.NA.MASH.LUM and UR.KU rise.

Month 8          day 5 GIR.TAB rises.

                       day 15 UZA and GAB.GIR.TAB rise.

Month 9          day 15 UD.KA.DUH.A, A^mushen and PA.BIL.SAG rise.

Month 10        day 15 SHIM.MA, shi-nu-nu-tum and IM.SIS rise.

Month 11        day 5 GU.LA, IKU and LU.LIM rise.

                       day 25 Anunitu rises.

Month 12        day 15 KUA and SHU.GI rise.

The best fit is obtained for Babylon between 1300 and 1000 BCE.

Example: Planet Names (Mul.Apin Series).

Source: Mul Apin by Hermann Hunger and David Pingree (1989).

Planet                          Name(s)

Sun                              ^dUTU (Samas)

Moon                           ^dSin

Saturn                          UDU.IDIM.SAG.US (the stable planet

                                    zibanitu (Scales)

                                    MUL ^dUTU (Star of the Sun)

Jupiter             Sagmegar

                                    ^dSulpaea

                                    ^dAMAR.UTU (Marduk)

Mars                            Salbatanu

Venus                          Dilibat

Mercury                       UDU.IDIM.GU₄.UD

sa Ninurta sumsu (the jumping planet whose name is Ninurta)

Example: Particular Star Uses.

Source: Mul Apin by Hermann Hunger and David Pingree (1989)? 

The stars associated with directions.

North               Wagon (the first circumpolar star)

South               Fish (the first star of Ea)

West                Scorpion (sets when Stars rise)

East                 Old Man and Stars (Stars rise when Scorpion sets; Old Man rises with Fish)

(1) The Late Assyrian Period (circa 900-600 BCE)

Example: Star Names and Constellations mentioned in Astrological Reports to the Kings. 

Source 1: Letters from Assyrian and Babylonian Scholars by Simo Parpola (1993).

1.            Agru (Aries): MUL.HUN.GA

2.            Alluttu (Cancer): MUL.AL.LUL

3.            Bibbu ("The Planet", a name of Mercury): UDU.IDIM

4.            Dilibat (Venus): dil.bat

5.            Enzu ("Goat", Lyra): MUL.UZ

6.            Epinnu ("Plough", a star): MUL.APIN

7.            Kaiamanu (Saturn): ^dUDU.IDIM.SAG.US

8.            Kumaru ("Shoulder (of the Panther)", d Cygni): MUL.ku-ma-ru

9.            Lisi (Antares): li-si [MUL.LI₉.SI₄]

10.         Masu (Gemini): ^dma-a-si

11.         Narkabtu ("Chariot", a constellation): MUL.GIS.GIGIR

12.         Neberu (a name of Jupiter): MUL.ne-bi-ru

13.         Nesu (Leo): MUL.UR.MAH

14.         Nimru ("Panther", Cygnus): MUL.UD.KA.DU₈.A

15.         Pabilsag (Sagittarius): MUL.PA.BIL.SAG

16.         Sagmegar (Jupiter, reading uncertain): SAG.ME.GAR

17.         Sebetti ("The Seven", a name of the Pleiades): ^d7.BI

18.         Sin (moon): ^d30

19.         Salbatanu (Mars): ^dsal-bat-a-nu

20.         Samas (sun, god of justice): ^dsa-mas

21.         Sanumma (a name of Mars): MUL.MIN-ma

22.         Sarru (Regulus): MUL.LUGAL

23.         Sibu (Perseus): MUL.SU.GI

24.         Sihtu (Mercury): ^dGUD.UD

25.         Siru (Virgo): MUL.AB.SIN

26.         Sitaddaru (Orion): MUL.SIPA.ZI.AN.NA

27.         Sukudu (Sirius): MUL.GAG.SI.SA

28.         Urgulu (Leo): MUL.UR.GU.LA

29.         Zappu ("Bristle", Pleiades): MUL.MUL

30.         Zibanitu (Scales): MUL.ZI.BA.AN.NA

31.         Zibbati ("Tails", Pisces): KUN.MES

32.         Zuqaqipu (Scorpius): MUL.GIR.TAB

Source 2: Astrological Reports to Assyrian Kings by Hermann Hunger (1992).

1.            Agru ("Hired Man", Aries) MUL.LU.HUN.GA

2.            Alluttu ("Crab", Cancer): MUL.AL.LUL

3.            Alu (Taurus, Aldebaran): MUL.GUD.AN.NA

4.            Anunitu (part of Pisces): MUL.an-nu-ni-tum

5.            Anu agu ("Anu-Crown", Hyades): MUL.a-nu-AGA

6.            Anzu (a star): MUL.IM.DUGUD

7.            Aribu ("Raven", Corvus): u-ga [MUL.UGA]

8.            Barbaru ("Wolf", a star): MUL.UR.BAR.RA

9.            Bibbu ("planet", most probably Saturn or Mercury): ^dUDU.IDIM

10.         Dilibat (Venus): ^ddil-bat [MUL.dil-bat]

11.         Engisgalanna (a name of Jupiter, reading uncertain): MUL.EN.GISGAL.AN.NA

12.         Enmesarra (a part of Perseus): MUL.EN.ME.SAR

13.         Enzu ("Goat", Lyra): u-za [MUL.UZ]

14.         Epinnu ("Plough", a star): MUL.APIN

15.         Eru'a ("Frond", a star): MUL.A.EDIN

16.         Gamlu (Auriga): ^dGAM

17.         Gilimma (a star, reading uncertain): MUL.GILIM.MA

18.         Habasiranu (Centaurus): MUL.EN.TE.NA.BAR.GUZ

19.         Idiglat ("Tigris", a group of stars): MUL.ID.IDIG-NA

20.         Iku ("Field", Pegasus): MUL.AS.GAN

21.         Indubanna (a part of Sagittaurius, reading uncertain): MUL.IN.DUB.AN.NA

22.         Irat Zuqaqipi (a part of Scorpius): MUL.GABA-GIR.TAB

23.         Is Le ("Jaw of the Bull", Hyades): MUL.is-le-e

24.         Kaiamanu (Saturn): ^dSAG.US

25.         Kalitu ("Kidney", Puppis): MUL.BIR

26.         Lisi (Antares): MUL.LI₉.SI₄

27.         Neberu (a name of Jupiter): ^dne-bi-ru [MUL.ne-bi-ru]

28.         Nesu ("Lion", Leo): MUL.UR.MAH

29.         Nimru ("Panther", Cygnus etc.): MUL.UD.KA.DU₈

30.         Niru ("Yoke", Bootes): su-du-un [MUL.SUDUN]

31.         Nunu ("Fish", Piscis austrinus): MUL.KU₆

32.         Nun same ("Fish of the Sky", Piscis austrinus): MUL.KU₆

33.         Pabilsag ("Presbyter", Sagittaurius): ^dPA.BIL.SAG [MUL.PA.BIL.SAG]

34.         Pasittu ("Deleter", a part of Andromeda): MUL.KA.MUS.I.KU.E

35.         Qastu ("Bow" a part of Canis major): MUL.^dBAN [MUL.BAN]

36.         Rappu ("Bridle", a star): MUL.rap.pu

37.         Sagmegar (Jupiter, reading uncertain): ^dSAG.ME.GAR [MUL.SAG.ME.GAR]

38.         Sarru ("False", a name of Mars): MUL.sa-ar-ri

39.         Sebetti ("The Seven", "Pleiades"): ^d7.BI

40.         Sin (moon god): ^d30

41.         Suhurmasu (Capricorn): MUL.SUHUR.MAS

42.         Salbatanu (Mars): ^dsal-bat-an-nu [MUL.sal-bat-a-nu]

43.         Sariru (a part of Sagittarius): MUL.AN.TA.SUR.RA

44.         Surru ("Obsidian", a star in Scorpius): MUL.sur-ru

45.         Samas (sun-god): ^dsa-mas

46.         Sanumma ("Strange", a name of Mars): MUL.MIN-ma

47.         Sargaz (a part of Scorpius): ^dSAR.GAZ [MUL.SAR.GAZ]

48.         Sarru ("King", Regulus): MUL.LUGAL

49.         Sarur (a part of Scorpius): ^dSAR.UR [MUL.SAR.UR]

50.         Selabu ("Fox", a star): MUL.KA.A

51.         Ser'u ("Furrow", Virgo): MUL.AB.SIN

52.         Sibu ("Old Man", Perseus): MUL.SI.GI

53.         Sihtu (Mercury): ^dGUD.UD [MUL.GUD.UD]

54.         Sinunutu ("Swallow", part of Pisces): si-im-ma-a [MUL.SIM.MAH]

55.         Sukudu ("Arrow", Sirius): MUL.GAG.SI.SA

56.         Sulpae (a name of Jupiter): ^dSUL.PA.E [MUL.SUL.PA.E]

57.         Tu'amu ("Twins", Gemini): MUL.MAS.TAB.BA

58.         Tu'amu rabutu ("Great Twins", Gemini): MUL.MAS.TAB.BA.GAL.GAL.

59.         Tultu ("Worm", a star): MUL.tul-tum

60.         Urgulu ("Lion", Leo): MUL.UR.GU.LA

61.         Usurtu ("Drawing", a name of Gemini): MUL.u-sur-ti

62.         Zappu ("Bristle", Pleiades): MUL.MUL

63.         Zibanitu ("Scales", Libra): MUL.zi-ba-ni-tum

64.         Zuqaqipu ("Scorpion", Scorpius): MUL.GIR.TAB

Example: Star List/Star Catalogue.

Source: A Scientific Humanist: Studies in Memory of Abraham Sachs edited by Erle Liechty, et al. (1988).

Star Names Listed In Star Catalogue BM 78161. Tablet BM 78161 comes from either Babylon or Sippar and dates from the 7th to 5th centuries BCE.

(2) The Neo-Babylonian (Chaldean) Period (626-539 BCE)

Example: Late Astrological Text. 

Source: Mesopotamian Astrology by Ulla Koch-Westenholz (1995).

The "Great Star List": "Among the several lists of stars, the most astrological is the so-called Great Star List …. This text is a motley of mythological and astrological data on planets and stars, mixed with other materials. Much of it seems to have been assembled from blocks excerpted from other texts. … Its composite character indicates that the text is not very old. Probably it was meant to serve as a vademecum for the astrologers."

[Select reproduction of the contents appears below:]

Example: Planisphere.

Source: Koch, Johannes. (1989). Neue Untersuchungen zur Topographie des babylonischen Fixsternhimmels.

Star Name And Constellations Listed On Planisphere K 8538. Listed analysis by Koch.

(3) The Persian (Achaemenid) Period (539-331 BCE)

Example: Particular Star Designations.

Source: Handbuch der Altorientalischen Geisteskultur by Alfred Jeremias (1929).

The Lumasi Stars [CT XXVI]:

SU.GI (d. i. Perseus und Sterne im Stier nördlich von den Hyaden = Perseus and stars in the bull north from the Hyaden)

UT.KA.DU.A (d. i. Cygnus and Lacerta)

SIB.ZI.AN.NA (d, i. Orion)

KAK.SI.DA (d. i. Sirius)

EN.TE.NA.MAS.SIG [habasiranu] (d. i. Sterne Südlich vom Krebs Nasru d. i. Adler = Stars south from the Crab [Cancer] Nasru d. i. Eagle)

PA.BIL.SAG (d. i. Schütze = Would protect [Sagittaurius])

 The Masu Stars:

Tu'amu rabuti (d. s. die großen Zwillinge (a and b geminorum) = the large twins (a and b geminorum))

Tu'amu sihruti (d. s. die kleinen Zwillinge = the little twins) [K 250 and VAT 9418]

Tu'amu sa ina mihrit SIB.ZI.AN.NA izzazu (d. s. die Zwillings-sterne, die gegenüber dem Orion stehen, wohl g und t geminorum = the twins-stars that stand vis-á-vis the Orion, probably g and t geminorum)

NIN.SAR (and IR.RA.GAL) (d. s. ?)

PA and LU.GAL (d. i. ?)

SAR.UR and SAR.GAZ (d. s. l and u Scorpion, s. S. 222 ff.)

Zibanitu (d. s. Wage = [Dares] The Scales [Libra])

The Tikpi Stars:

SU.GI (d. i. Perseus)

GU.AN.NA (d. i. Bull [Taurus])

SIB.ZI.AN.NA (d. i. Orion)

UR.GU.LA (d. i. Lion [Leo])

Siru (d. i. Hydra)

GIR.TAB (d. i. Scorpion)

LU.LIM (d. i. Andromeda)

Example: Particular Star Designations.

Source: Weidner, Ernst. (1957-1971). "Fixsterne." In: Weidner, Ernst. and von Soden, Wolfram. (Editors). Reallexikon der Assyriologie und Vorderasiatischen Archäologie. (Volume 3).

The lumasi Stars:

^msu-gi (Perseus)

^mu₄-ka-du-a (Cygnus + Cepheus)

^msipa-zi-an-na (Orion)

^mkak-si-sa (Sirius)

^men-te-na-bar-sig (Centaurus?)

^mnasru (Aquila)

^mpa-bil-sag (Sagittarius)

The tikpi Stars:

^msu-gi (Perseus)

^mgu₄-an-[na] (Taurus)

^msipa-zi-an-na (Orion)

^mur-gu-[la] (Leo)

^mmus (Hydra)

^mgir-tab (Scorpius)

^mlu-[lim(?)] (Cassiopeia)

^mgam (Auriga)

^mlugal (a Leonis)

^mu₅-ri-in (?)

^mka-mus-ni-ku-e (a Cassiopeia)

^mis li-e (Hyades)

^mmus (Hydra)

^mNE-gun (a Scorpii)

The masu Stars:

^mmas-tab-ba-gal-gal (a + b Geminorum)

^mmas-tab-ba-tur-tur (i + n or z + l Geminorum)

^mmas-tab-ba vis-à-vis the ^msipa-zi-an-na (Orion) (e + g Geminorum)

^mnin-sar ^mir-ra-gal (h + q Lyrae?)

^mhanis ^msullat (a + b Centauri)

^msar-ur₄ ^msar-gaz (l + n Scorpii)

^mzi-ba-an-na (Variation ^mku-an-na ^mku-ki-sikil-la) (a + b Librae)

Example: Particular Star Designations.

Source: Antike Beobachtungen farbiger Sterne by Franz Boll (1918) (Ancient Observations of Coloured Stars).

Lists: K 250 and VAT 9418.

The Lumasi Stars [= Jupiter Stars]:

Su.gi = Perseus

Nimru = Cygnus + Cepheus + x

Sitaddulu = Orion

Sukudu = Sirius + Procyon

Habasiranu = Centaurus

Nasru = Eagle

Pa.bil.sag = Sagittarius

The Masu Stars:

Tu'amu rabuti = a + b Gemini

Tu'amu sihruti = l + z Gemini

Tu'amu sa ina mihrit Sitaddali izzazu = ? a + g Orionis

Nin.sar and Ur(?).ra.gal = ? Not yet identified

Pa and Lu.gal = Not yet identified

Sar.ur and Sar.gaz = l and u Scorpii

Zibanitu = Libra

The Tikpi Stars:

(a)

Su.gi = Perseus

Gu.an.na = Taurus

Sitaddalu = Orion

Urgu[lu] = Leo

Siru = Hydra + b Cancer

Zuqaqipu = Scorpius

Lu.[lim?] = Cassiopeia + Andromeda + x

(b)

Gumlu = Auriga

Sarru = Regulus

A-zu(?)-in = Not yet identified

Ka-mus.niku.a = Andromeda-fog(?)

Gisli = Taurus

Siru = Hydra + b Cancri

Us.si = Antares

Example: Zodiacal Text.

Source: Science Awakening II: The Birth of Astronomy by Bartel van der Waerden (1974) (for text from Uruk published by Thureau-Dangin).

Zodiacal Signs Listed In VAT 4956.

1.                  LU.HUN.GA =Aries

2.                  MUL = Taurus

3.                  MASH = Gemini

4.                  NANGAR = Cancer

5.                  UR.A = Leo

6.                  AB.SIN = Virgo

7.                  zi.ba-ni-tu = Libra

8.                  GIR.TAB = Scorpio

9.                  PA = Sagittaurius

10.              SUHUR = Capricornus

11.              GU = Aquarius

12.              zib = Pisces

Example: Stars Names Listed In Normal-Star Almanacs.

Source: Astronomical Diaries and Related Texts from Babylonia, Volume 1 by Hermann Hunger (and Abraham Sachs) (1988).

"In order to give the positions of the moon and the planets a number of stars close to the ecliptic are used for reference. These have been called "Normalsterne" [normal stars] by Epping and the term has remained in use ever since. [The Babylonian term is 'counting stars.'] The following table lists the Babylonian names, their translations, the modern names …."

(1) MUL KUR sa DUR nu-nu

The bright star of the Ribbon of the Fishes.

h Piscium

(2) MUL IGI sa SAG HUN

The bright star at the head of the Hired Man.

b Arietis

(3) MUL ar sa SAG HUN

The rear star of the head of the Hired Man.

a Arietis

(4) MUL-MUL

The Bristle.

h Tauri

(5) is le₁₀

The Jaw of the Bull.

a Tauri

(6) SUR GIGIR sa SI

The northern …. of the Chariot.

b Tauri

(7) SUR GIGIR sa ULU

The southern …. of the Chariot.

z Tauri

(8) MUL IGI sa se-pit MAS-MAS

The front star of the Twins' feet.

h Geminorum

(9) MUL ar sa se-pit MAS-MAS

The rear star of the Twins' feet.

m Geminorum

(10) MAS-MAS sa SIPA

The Twins' star near the Shepherd.

g Geminorum

(11) MAS-MAS IGI

The front Twin star.

a Geminorum

(12) MAS-MAS ar

The rear Twin star.

b Geminorum

(13) MUL IGI sa ALLA sa SI

The front star of the Crab to the north.

h Cancri

(14) MUL IGI sa ALLA sa ULU

The front star of the Crab to the south.

q Cancri

[APOVET also lists e Cnc., a cluster, as a Babylonian normal star.]

(15) MUL ar sa ALLA sa SI

The rear star of the Crab to the north.

g Cancri

(16) MUL ar sa ALLA sa ULU

The rear star of the Crab to the south.

d Cancri

(17) SAG A

The Head of the Lion.

e Leonis

(18) LUGAL

The King.

a Leonis

(19) MUL TUR sa 4 KUS ar LUGAL

The small star which is 4 cubits behind the King.

r Leonis

(20) GIS KUN A

The Rump of the Lion.

q Leonis

(21) GIR ar sa A

The rear foot of the Lion.

b Virginis

(22) DELE sa IGI ABSIN

The Single star in front of the Furrow.

g Virginis

(23) SA₄ sa ABSIN

The bright star of the Furrow.

a Virginis

(24) RIN sa ULU

The southern part of the Scales.

a Librae [APOVET lists it as a² Lib.]

(25) RIN sa SI

The northern part of the Scales.

b Librae

(26) MUL MURUB₄ sa SAG GIR-TAB

The middle star of the Head of the Scorpion.

d Scorpii

(27) MUL e sa SAG GIR-TAB

The upper star of the Head of the Scorpion.

b Scorpii [APOVET lists it as b¹ Sco.]

(28) SI₄

(the god) Lisi

a Scorpii

(29) MUL KUR sa KIR₄ sil PA

The bright star on the tip of Pabilsag's arrow.

q Ophiuchi

(30) SI MAS

The Horn of the Goat-fish.

b Capricorni [APOVET lists it as ab Cap., stating it denotes a combination of three stars that the Babylonians did not usually distinguish.]

[APOVET by Newton also lists y [?] Cap., as a Babylonian normal star.]

[APOVET by Newton also lists w Cap., as a Babylonian normal star.]

(31) MUL IGI sa SUHUR MAS

The front star of the Goat-fish.

g Capricorni

(32) MUL ar sa SUHUR MAS

The rear star of the Goat-fish.

d Capricorni

The stars contained in the above list are by far the most common normal stars.

Example: Counting Stars (= Normal Stars).

Source: Ancient Planetary Observations and the Validity of Ephemeris Time by Robert Newton (1976).

Babylonian Reference Stars other than Normal Stars.

m Cet.

q Tau. (A doublet that the observers did not separate into components.)

z Gem.

a C.Mi.

d Leo.

h Vir

b Cap.

f Agr.

Example: List Of Ziqpu Stars.

Source: Schaumberger, Johann. "Die Ziqpu-Gestirne nach neuen Keilschrifttexten." Zeitschrift für Assyriologie und vorderasiatische Archäologie, Band 50 [= Neue Folge, 16], 1952, Pages 214-229.

Cuneiform Text AO 6478.

I           ^mulSUDUN = 18 a Bootis = Arcturus

II         ^mulSUDUN ANSU EGIR-ti (= arkiti) = 19 x Bootis (+ o, p oder z)

III        ^mulGAM-ti (= kipparti) = 20 a Coronae = Gemma

IV        ^mulsa mas-a-ti = 21 b Herculis

V         ^mulsa tas-ka-a-ti = 22 a Herculis = Ras Algethi

VI        ^mulDIL (= edu) = 23 m Herculis

VII      ^mulGASAN.TIN (= belet balati) = 24 a Lyrae = Wega

VIII     ^mulku-ma-ri sa PIRIG.KA.DU₈.A = 25 b Cygni = Albireo

IX        ^mulni-bi-I sa irti-su = 1 a Cygni = Deneb

X         ^mulkin-su = 2 15 Lacertae (Gruppe)

XI        ^mula-si-di = 3 s Andromedae?

XII      ^mulIV sa ^mulLU.LIM = 4 p, o, x, n Cassiopeiae

XIII     ^mulum-mu-lu-ti = 5 h Persei (Gruppe)

XIV     ^mulni-bi-i sa SU.GI = 6 a Persei = Algenib

XV      ^mulna-as-ra-pi = 7 b, c, Persei (Gruppe)

XVI     ^mulGAM (= gamli) = 8 a Aurigae

XVII   ^mulritti GAM = 9 b Aurigae

XVIII  ^mulMAS.TAB.BA                                            a Geminorum = Castor

                                                                        = 10

XIX     ^mulMAS.TAB.BA EGIR-i (= arki)                  b Geminorum = Pollux

XX      ^mulAL.LUL = 11 Praespe in Cancer (Gruppe)

XXI     ^mulII mul^mes sa SAG.DU ^mulUR.GU.LA = 12 e Lionis

                                                                                   m Leonis

XXII   ^mulIV sa GAB (= irti)-su = 13 a Leonis = Regulus

                                                            g Leonis

                                                            h Leonis

                                                            z Leonis

XXIII  ^mulII sa ^gisKUN (= rapasti)-su = 14 d Leonis

                                                                     q Leonis

XXIV  ^mulDIL (= edu) sa KUN (= zibbati)-su = 15 b Leonis

XXV   ^mulA.EDEN = 16 g Comae Berenices

XXVI  ^mulSUDUN.ANSU = 17 u Bootis

      I    ^mulSUDUN                     h Bootis

naphar (= Summe)

(5) Seleucid (Hellenistic) Period (275 BCE - 116 CE) 

Example: Zodiacal Text.

Source: Foxvog, Daniel. (1993). "Astral Dumuzi." In: Cohen, Mark. et al. (Editors). The Tablet and the Scroll: Near Eastern Studies in Honor of William W. Hallo.

Tablet: SBTU II No 43 (W 22646) (circa 200 BCE?).

Appendix 1: Babylonian Star and Constellation Catalogue

Source: After the list compiled by the American academic Hope Anthony and placed on his now defunct 1996 website.

"The Sumerian transliteration is in all-caps, and then the Akkadian is in italics. The English translation of the name is in quotes, followed by the modern star or constellation to which it refers. Alternate spellings for any of the constellation names are not included, as this would lead to a maze of circular definitions. Also, this catalogue is alphabetized by the Sumerian. In the event that the Sumerian name is not known, the constellation is still included and alphabetized by its Akkadian name, but only in this event."

A

1.         AB.SÍN

            "The Furrow"; The star Spica in Virgo

2.         A.EDIN = Erua

            gamma Comae Berenices (?) and possibly others

3.         AGA dA-nim

            "The Crown of Anu"

4.         AL.LUL = alluttu

            "The Crab"; Cancer

5.         dAMAR.UD = dMarduk

            Jupiter

6.         Á.MUSHEN = erû

            "The Eagle"; Aquila

7.         ANSHE.KUR.RA = sisû

            "The Horse"

8.         AN.TA.SUR.RA = sariru

            "Flashing"; Probably a meteor

9.         AN.TA.SHUB.SHUB.BA

            "Falling from Above"; Probably a meteorite

10.       APIN = epinnu

            "The Plow"; Triangulum Boreale with gamma Andromedae

11.       ASH.GÁN = ikû

            "The Field"; alpha, beta and gamma Pegasi with alpha Andromedae

B

12.       BAL.TÉSH.A = kakkab balti

            "Star of Dignity"; Corona Borealis (?)

13.       BAN (GISH.BAN) = qashtu

            "The Bow"; tao, delta, sigma, and epsilon Canis Maioris

14.       BIR = kalitu

            "The Kidney"; zeta Puppis

15.       BURANUN = Purattu

            "The Euphrates"

D

16.       DAR.LUGAL

            "The Rooster"; Canis Minor (?)

17.       DINGIR.GUB.BA.MESH

            "The Standing Gods"

18.       DINGIR.KU.A.MESH

            "The Sitting (?) Gods"

19.       DUMU.USH.É.MAH

            Polaris (?)

E

20.       EN.GISHGAL.AN.NA

            Jupiter

21.       EN.ME.SHÁR.RA

            zeta and omicron Persei with, perhaps, the northern stars of Taurus

22.       EN.TE.NA.BAR.HUM = habasiranu

            Centaurus

23.       ESH4.DAR = Ishtar

            Venus

24.       É.TÙR = tarbasu

            "The Cattle Pen"

G

25.       GABA SHU.GI

            "The Chest of the Old Man"; Probably delta Persei

26.       GAL = rabbu, rabû

            "The Great"

27.       GÀM = gamlu

            "The Crook"; Auriga

28.       GÁN.ÙR(.RA) (GISH.GÁN.ÙR) = mashkakatu

            "The Harrow"

29.       GIGIR (GISH.GIGIR) = narkabtu

            "The Chariot"

30.       GÌR.MESH SHU.GI

            "The Feet of the Old Man"; Probably beta Persei

31.       GÍR.TAB = zuqaqipu

            "The Scorpion"; Scorpius

32.       GISH.KAK dEN.ME.SHÁR.RA

            "The Cart Pole of EN.ME.SHÁR.RA"; Probably zeta Persei

33.       GU4.AN.NA

            "The Bull of Heaven"; Taurus

34.       GU.LA

            "Great"; Aquarius

35.       GU4.UD = shihtu

            "Jumping"; Mercury

H

36.       HÉ.GÁL-a-a = kakkab nushi

            "Star of Abundance"; Part of Coma Berenices (?)

I

37.       IDIGNA = Idiglat

            "The Tigris"

38.       dIM.DUGUD.MUSHEN = Anzû

            "The Anzû Bird"

39.       dIMIN.BI = ilu sibitti

            "The Seven Gods"; The deities of MUL.MUL (the Pleiades)

40.       IM.SHU.RIN.NA = tinuru

            "The Oven"

K

41.       KA5.A = shelebu

            "The Fox"; Ursae Maioris (?)

42.       KAK.SI.SÁ = shukudu

            "The Arrow"; alpha Canis Maioris

43.       KA.MUSH.Ì.KÚ.E = Pashittu

            beta Andromedae

44.       KU6 = nunu

            "The Fish"; Piscis Austrinus

L

45.       dLAMMA

            alpha Lyrae

46.       LI.DUR SIPA.ZI.AN.NA

            "The Navel of the True Shepherd of Anu"; Probably alpha Orionis

47.       LI9.SI4

            alpha Scorpii

48.       LUGAL = sharru

            "The King"; alpha Leonis

49.       LÚ.HUN.GÁ = argu

            "The Hired Man"; Aries

50.       LU.LIM = lulimu

            "The Stag"; Andromeda

51.       LUL.LA = sarru

            "False"; Probably not a real star

M

52.       MAR.GÍD.DA = eriqqu

            "The Wagon"; Ursa Major

53.       MAR.GÍD.DA.AN.NA

            "The Wagon of Heaven"; Ursa Minor

54.       MASH.TAB.BA.GAL.GAL = tu'amu rabûtu

            "The Great Twins"; alpha and beta Geminorum

55.       MASH.TAB.BA.TUR.TUR

            "The Little Twins"; zeta and lamda Geminorium

56.       MUL.MUL = zappu

            "The Stars" (Sum.) or "The Bristle" (Akk.); The Pleiades

57.       MUSH

            "The Snake"; Hydra

N

58.       dNIN.KILIM = shikkû

            "The Mongoose"

P

59.       PA.BIL.SAG

            Sagittarius

S

60.       SIM.MAH = shinunutu

            "The Swallow"; Western fish of Pisces

61.       SIPA.ZI.AN.NA = shidallu

            "The True Shepherd of Anu"; Orion

62.       SUHUR.MÁSH = suhurmashû

            "The Goat Fish"; Capricorn

Sh

63.       SHAH

            "The Pig"; Delphinus

64.       SHAR.GAZ

            lamda or upsilon Scorpii

65.       SHAR.UR4

            lamda or upsilon Scorpii

66.       SHUDUN = niru

            "The Yoke"; Boötes

67.       SHU.GI = shibu

            "The Old Man"; Perseus

68.       SHU.PA

            Boötes

T

69.       TIR.AN.NA = manzât

            "The Rainbow"

70.       tultu

            "The Worm"

U

71.       UD.KA.DU8.A

            "The Demon with the Gaping Mouth"; Cygnus and part of Cepheus

72.       UGA(.MUSHEN) = aribu

            "The Raven"; Corvus

 73.       UR.BAR.RA = barbaru

            "The Wolf"; alpha Trianguli

74.       UR.GU.LA

            "The Lion"; Leo

75.       UR.IDIM

            "The Mad Dog"; Lupus

76.       ÙZ = enzu

            "The She-Goat"; Lyra

Z

77.       ZI.BA.AN.NA = zibanitu

"The Scales" (Akk.); Libra

78.       ziqit GÍR.TAB

"The Sting of the Scorpion"; Identified with SHAR.GAZ and SHAR.UR4

Appendix 2: Astronomical Texts from Mesopotamia in the First Millennium BCE  (After: "Celestial Measurement in Babylonian Astronomy." by John Steele (Annals of Science, Volume 64, Number 3, 2007, Pages 293-325.)

These can be divided into four main groups:

1. Letters and reports sent by state-employed scholars to the Neo-Assyrian kings Esarhaddon and Assurbanipal during the seventh century BCE. Much of this correspondence concerns observed astronomical phenomena and their interpretation as celestial omens. (The letters are edited in S. Parpola, Letters from Assyrian and Babylonian Scholars (1993) (earlier edition S. Parpola, Letters from Assyrian Scholars to the Kings Esarhaddon and Assurbanipal. Part 1: Texts (1970), with a detailed commentary in S. Parpola Letters from Assyrian Scholars to the Kings Esarhaddon and Assurbanipal. Part 1: Commentaries and Appendices (1983). The reports are edited in H. Hunger, Astrological Reports to Assyrian Kings (1992).)

2. Systematic reports of astronomical observations made in Babylon (and occasionally other cities in southern Mesopotamia) during the last seven and a half centuries BCE. These observations are recorded in texts known as 'Astronomical Diaries,' 'Excerpt Texts,' and 'Goal-Year Texts,' The Diaries contain night-by-night observations (and sometimes predictions) of astronomical phenomena such as passages of the Moon and planets by certain stars (known today as ‘Normal Stars’), first and last visibilities and stations of the planets, and eclipses of the Sun and Moon, and are presumed to be the source of the material in the Excerpt Texts and Goal-Year Texts. These latter two types of text contain collections of observations of particular planetary and lunar phenomena. They may be arranged either chronologically or into characteristic astronomical periods (e.g. 8 years for Venus, 46 years for Mercury, 18 years for the Moon) for the Excerpt Texts or by extracting reports for one planetary period earlier than a specific 'goal' year for the Goal-Year Texts. (All datable Astronomical Diaries are edited in A.Sachs and H. Hunger, Astronomical Diaries and Related Texts from Babylonia, Volumes 1-3 (1988, 1989, 1996), and the Excerpt Texts in H. Hunger, Astronomical Diaries and Related Texts from Babylonia, Volume 5 (2001). Publication of the Goal-Year Texts is forthcoming from H. Hunger.)

3. Astronomical phenomena for a particular year predicted by non-mathematical period schemes. These predicted phenomena were recorded on texts known as 'Almanacs' and 'Normal Star Almanacs.' Both types of text contain predictions of the dates and zodiacal signs of the first and last visibilities and stations of the planets, lunar and solar eclipses, and certain lunar phenomena. In addition, the Almanacs contain the dates of the entries of the planets into each sign of the zodiac, whereas the Normal Star Almanacs contain calculated planetary passages by the Normal Stars. The predicted data were obtained by applying the goal-year periods to the data contained in the Goal-Year Texts. (Goal-year texts contain collections of past astronomical records, believed to have been abstracted from the astronomical diaries, that are used to enable the prediction of of astronomical events for a particular (forth-coming) "goal year." Surviving goal-year texts are dated within the period 236 BCE to 24 BCE.) Suitable corrections to the dates of phenomena were applied to the data as the goal-year periods are not fully accurate. A few texts describe the methods of making some of these predictions, most importantly TU 11, BM 45728, and BM 41004 (also known as 'Atypical Text E'). (For the classification of astronomical texts from Babylon, see A. Sachs, "A Classification of the Babylonian Astronomical Tablets of the Seleucid Period." Journal of Cuneiform Studies, Volume 2 (1948), Pages 271-90, H. Hunger, "Non-Mathematical Astronomical Texts and Their Relationships." In: Ancient Astronomy and Celestial Divination, edited by N. Swerdlow (1999) and H. Hunger and D. Pingree, Astral Sciences in Mesopotamia (1999). Copies of many astronomical texts of all kinds are published in A. Sachs, Late Babylonian Astronomical and Related Texts (1955). For TU 11, see L. Brack-Bernsen and H. Hunger, "TU 11: A Collection of Rules for the Prediction of Lunar Phases and of Month Lengths." SCIAMVS Volume 3, (2002), Pages 3-90; for BM 45728, see J. Britton, "Treatments of Annual Phenomena in Cuneiform Sources." In: Under One Sky: Astronomy and Mathematics in the Ancient Near East, edited by J. Steele and A. Imhausen (2002), Pages 21-78; for Atypical Text E, see O. Neugebauer and A. Sachs, "Some Atypical Astronomical Cuneiform Texts I." Journal of Cuneiform Studies, Volume 21, (1967), Pages 183-218.)

4. Texts of mathematical astronomy including 'Ephemerides,' tables of calculated astronomical phenomena, and 'Procedure Texts,' explanatory texts detailing how to calculate Ephemerides. These texts employ abstract methods including for the lunar theories the separation of compound variability into lunar and solar components. In the Ephemerides, calculated positions of the Moon and planets are always given as a number of UŠ ('degrees') within one of twelve zodiacal signs, each of which is divided into 30 UŠ. Type (ii) and (iii) texts together are often referred to as 'Non-Mathematical Astronomical Texts' or 'NMAT' texts and those of type (iv) either as 'ACT' texts, after Neugebauer's Astronomical Cuneiform Texts, or as 'Mathematical Astronomical Texts' or 'MAT' texts. The relationship between the NMAT and MAT texts is never discussed in Babylonian sources. (The primary publication of mathematical astronomical texts is O. Neugebauer, Astronomical Cuneiform Texts, Parts 1-3 (1955).)

The assyriologist Francesca Rochberg (Bablonian Horoscopes (1998, Page xi) would include "the horoscopes together with diaries, almanacs, goal-year texts, ephemerides and procedure texts as sources for our reconstruction of the repertoire of Babylonian astronomy in the late first millennium."

Appendix 3: Mesopotamian Astronomical Sources 

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